Dan Campbell was aggressive once again and it paid off once again. After notching another field-goal win at the buzzer over the Green Bay Packers in Week 14, the Lions are now 12-1, having won 11 straight. They have secured a playoff spot and have their sights set on the No. 1 seed. Detroit has a one-game lead over the Eagles and Vikings in the race for home-field advantage.
As we enter the final quarter of the season, the Lions have taken a strong hold of the top of the power polls across the media landscape. Let’s take a look at some of those rankings and what the analysts have to say.
USA Today
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Nate Davis had to say: “Their positioning at the top of the heap feels fairly unassailable – the NFC leaders tied for the league’s best record (12-1), consecutive playoff berths in hand for the first time in 29 years and with the NFL’s largest point differential (+183). And yet there are the mounting defensive injuries, the potential double-edged sword borne of HC Dan Campbell’s fearless decision making, to say nothing of the fact that Minnesota (11-2) just will not go away – regardless of how overshadowed the Vikings tend to be. Said more succinctly, the Lions are – currently – the best team, but they’re operating in an environment where a hard left turn seems increasingly possible.”
Pro Football Talk
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Mike Florio had to say: “Too much risk it, eventually no biscuit.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Eric Woodyard had to say: “Detroit’s offense has posted 20-plus points for 11 straight games while averaging a league-high 31 points. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson uses a creative approach to getting the most out of his playmakers, including quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, among others. Detroit also has a point differential of plus-183, which is its highest through the first 13 games of any season in franchise history. This offense has appeared unstoppable at times”
ESPN’s writers were tasked with picking their most shocking stat for their team this season. For Woodyard, it was the Lions ranking No. 1 in total points per game.
NFL.com
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Eric Edholm had to say: “That’s two close shaves at home in the past two weeks, but Thursday’s win over the Packers was a clear upgrade over the Lions’ Thanksgiving performance against the Bears. An even further decimated defense hung on for dear life, turning in an absolutely gutsy effort. The offense did what it does; controlling the clock and limiting Green Bay’s possessions was a big part of the game plan. This was complementary football in all three phases, right down to Jake Bates’ game-winning kick. Missing on the fourth down late in the third quarter hurt, as did Jared Goff’s interception before that. But converting on four other fourth downs — including the wild one late in a tie game, well within field-goal range — more than made up for those shortcomings and cemented the Lions’ current place as both the NFL’s best team and its most cutthroat.”
”
Yahoo Sports
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Frank Schwab had to say: “The defensive injuries are getting concerning. We can talk and joke about Dan Campbell going for it on fourth-and-1 instead of taking the field goal last Thursday, but in doing so he indicated he didn’t trust his defense to hold Green Bay out of FG range with about only 40 seconds left.”
CBS Sports
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Pete Prisco had to say: “Dan Campbell needs to stop with the fourth-down decisions. This team is too good for that. Now they face a big one with the Bills.”
USA Today
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Nate Davis had to say: “Their positioning at the top of the heap feels fairly unassailable – the NFC leaders tied for the league’s best record (12-1), consecutive playoff berths in hand for the first time in 29 years and with the NFL’s largest point differential (+183). And yet there are the mounting defensive injuries, the potential double-edged sword borne of HC Dan Campbell’s fearless decision making, to say nothing of the fact that Minnesota (11-2) just will not go away – regardless of how overshadowed the Vikings tend to be. Said more succinctly, the Lions are – currently – the best team, but they’re operating in an environment where a hard left turn seems increasingly possible.”
Pro Football Talk
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Mike Florio had to say: “Too much risk it, eventually no biscuit.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Eric Woodyard had to say: “Detroit’s offense has posted 20-plus points for 11 straight games while averaging a league-high 31 points. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson uses a creative approach to getting the most out of his playmakers, including quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, among others. Detroit also has a point differential of plus-183, which is its highest through the first 13 games of any season in franchise history. This offense has appeared unstoppable at times”
ESPN’s writers were tasked with picking their most shocking stat for their team this season. For Woodyard, it was the Lions ranking No. 1 in total points per game.
NFL.com
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Eric Edholm had to say: “That’s two close shaves at home in the past two weeks, but Thursday’s win over the Packers was a clear upgrade over the Lions’ Thanksgiving performance against the Bears. An even further decimated defense hung on for dear life, turning in an absolutely gutsy effort. The offense did what it does; controlling the clock and limiting Green Bay’s possessions was a big part of the game plan. This was complementary football in all three phases, right down to Jake Bates’ game-winning kick. Missing on the fourth down late in the third quarter hurt, as did Jared Goff’s interception before that. But converting on four other fourth downs — including the wild one late in a tie game, well within field-goal range — more than made up for those shortcomings and cemented the Lions’ current place as both the NFL’s best team and its most cutthroat.”
”
Yahoo Sports
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Frank Schwab had to say: “The defensive injuries are getting concerning. We can talk and joke about Dan Campbell going for it on fourth-and-1 instead of taking the field goal last Thursday, but in doing so he indicated he didn’t trust his defense to hold Green Bay out of FG range with about only 40 seconds left.”
CBS Sports
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Pete Prisco had to say: “Dan Campbell needs to stop with the fourth-down decisions. This team is too good for that. Now they face a big one with the Bills.”