The Detroit Lions lost a hard one to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, so the expectation was that they’re going to slip int he power rankings this week. Let’s see if they did.
ESPN: 5th
Previous ranking: 3rd
“Detroit’s backfield is one of the best in the league with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, but Vaki brings a unique skill set and adds value on special teams. Vaki played safety in college but was drafted as a running back. He showcased his pass-catching ability by being on the receiving end of a fake punt against the Bucs. “We loved him for special teams based on his college tape, but he’s been able to translate that physicality that he’s shown on special teams to that position, so he’s not afraid to come downhill on a linebacker,” offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.” -Eric Woodyard
USA Today: 5th
Previous ranking: 2nd
“Per ESPN Research, their six red-zone drives without a TD were the club’s most in one game in 43 years. One of those was the failed march at the end of the first half, which Dan Campbell took the blame for and cited as the reason his team lost its playoff rematch with the Bucs.” -Nate Davis
Sports Illustrated: 3rd
Previous ranking: 2nd
“I thought the Lions would lose one of their first two games because, for one, they were never going to go undefeated, and, two, seem to me to be the kind of club that needs to take an elbow to the nose before they get to full strength. This was a wake-up call for the defense but was also a notice that they do not own a monopoly on toughness. The Buccaneers came into Detroit with attitude.” -Connor Orr
Yahoo Sports: 5th
Previous ranking: 3rd
“The Lions outgained the Buccaneers 463-216 and somehow lost. It’s not great to lose at home but it’s also not the type of performance that should raise red flags. It’s odd to see Sam LaPorta at just six catches for 58 yards (Jameson Williams is getting a lot of attention early on) in two games but that should be fine too.” -Frank Schwab
CBS Sports: 11th
Previous ranking: 4th
“The offense didn’t do enough against Tampa Bay, which is why they are now 1-1. Jared Goff threw for 300 yards, but never looked in sync.” -Pete Prisco
The Sporting News: 8th
Previous ranking: 3rd
“The Lions got Aidan Hutchinson and the defense going vs. the Bucs, but Jared Goff, after his new contract, has been shaky to start with a pair of anomalous poor home games. Now, Detroit needs to deal with some key injuries to the receiving corps when health was mostly on their side in 2023.” -Vinnie Iyer
Bleacher Report: 5th
Previous ranking: 2nd
“Had you said before Sunday’s meeting at Ford Field that the Detroit Lions would outgain the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by almost 250 yards and that Lions edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson would log 4.5 sacks, most people would have predicted an easy win for the home team. But thanks to a couple of costly turnovers, some questionable coaching and some timely plays by the Buccaneers, the Lions were stunned at home to fall to 1-1.
It most assuredly was not the Lions’ finest hour, but Hutchinson told reporters after the game that he thinks the loss could actually be a learning experience for Detroit.” -NFL Staff
NFL: 5th
Previous ranking: 2nd
“Things are not humming the way you’d expect offensively for this group. Yards are one thing; execution is very much another. Jared Goff is off to a slow start to the season, missing too many throws and not connecting on enough chunk plays. The first-throw INT against the Buccaneers sort of set the tone for the game. The Lions moved the ball up and down the field, but the red-zone execution (1 for 7) was awful. Detroit’s defense did its job, especially in the fourth quarter with a chance to steal the game. It’s too early to say things don’t look quite right because the Lions didn’t really start cooking until later in the season in 2023, but with the plucky Cardinals and Seahawks up next on the schedule, they’d better figure out their issues right quick.” -Eric Edholm