Bouncing back from a Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers, the Lions won in the desert Sunday, knocking off the Cardinals 20-13. How did that affect their standings in the various power rankings? Let’s take a look.
USA Today
Current rank: 4
Last week’s rank: 5
What Nate Davis had to say: “DE Aidan Hutchinson is still on fire, (prematurely) paced toward 37 sacks. His team will need that kind of pressure against this week’s opponent, Seattle, which has beaten the Lions six straight times – the average score of the past three meetings 45-35.”
Pro Football Talk
Current rank: 3
Last week’s rank: 4
What Mike Florio had to say: “The Lions are capable of suffocating most teams in the NFL.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Current rank: 5
Last week’s rank: 5
What Eric Woodyard had to say: “Even after a Week 3 win, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown acknowledged that the Lions’ offense could step up more. The main statistic that jumps out is that the Lions are 5-of-13 (38.5 %) scoring touchdowns on red zone opportunities. For context, through three games in 2023, the Lions were 5-of-9 (55.6%) in red zone scoring. When they were was upset by Tampa Bay in Week 2, the Lions had six red zone drives without a touchdown, their most in a game since 1981, per ESPN Research.”
NFL.com
Current rank: 4
Last week’s rank: 5
What Eric Edholm had to say: “Jared Goff played a cleaner game Sunday, but he still threw a regrettable interception that kept the Cardinals in it. That’s now four picks in three outings for Goff, and he could have had another — a pick-six, no less — late in the second quarter had the referees not blown the play dead just ahead of the two-minute warning. He also took a pair of sacks, both of which he appeared to walk himself into (including one vs. a three-man rush). Goff was more accurate this time out, completing 18 of his 23 passes despite Sam LaPorta missing most of the second half and Jameson Williams having a quiet game. The hook-and-ladder play was a reminder that this offense still is juicy and fun. But Sunday’s victory had as much to do with Detroit’s defense stepping up in a big way. There were still a few coverage slip-ups, but the pressure and tackling were strong all game.”
Yahoo Sports
Current rank: 3
Last week’s rank: 5
What Frank Schwab had to say: “Sunday’s win vs. the Cardinals was costly for the Lions. They lost defensive end Marcus Davenport for the season with an elbow injury and center Frank Ragnow will miss time with a pectoral injury. Ragnow is a huge part of the Lions’ stellar offensive line and Aidan Hutchinson will get more attention without Davenport on the other side.”
CBS Sports
Current rank: 10
Last week’s rank: 11
What Pete Prisco had to say: “After losing to the Bucs, they bounced back against the Cardinals with a victory. But they still don’t quite look like the team we expect to see.”