Power Rankings: Lions No. 1 Team in NFL
Six games into the NFL season, the Detroit Lions are tied for the league's best record.
The 5-1 mark, blemished only by an overtime loss to Seattle in Week 2, is now the league's best as both Philadelphia and San Francisco lost for the first time this season in Week 6.
As a result, many believe the Lions belong in the conversation for the league's best team.
Here's where Detroit stands amongst national power rankings:
Power ranking: 1st
Previous rank: 3rd
The Lions are the hottest team in the NFL. Not only are they defeating their opponents, they are walking off the field by winning by 10 points or more.
Aaron Glenn's defense is executing at a very high level, as evidenced by limited the Buccaneers to only six points.
With Jared Goff leading the ship, Detroit has entered the conversation with the 49ers and Eagles as the teams that can represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season.
Power ranking: 7th
Previous rank: 4th
"I thought the Lions’ defense was very impressive on Sunday and stymied what I felt was going to be a game-altering Tampa Bay drive before the half. The most important part of this game, though, was watching Jared Goff muster enough of a scoring offense to succeed when the running game was completely blanked. The Lions had not rushed for fewer than 100 yards in a game all season. On Sunday, they managed only 40. Like with the 49ers, we were able to see what Detroit looked like with one hand tied behind its back."
Power ranking: 5th
Previous rank: 5th
"The Lions roared well on the road back in old NFC Central country in Tampa Bay. They proved they can get the job done with young defense when getting limtied pop from their offense."
Power ranking: 3rd
Previous rank: 6th
"The Lions are very real. Before their dominating performance against the Buccaneers, they ranked eighth in offensive EPA and 10th in defensive EPA. The offense seems to just now be hitting their groove, and this defense is significantly better than a season ago. They’re playing as a top-three team in the NFC, and they are one of the best teams in the NFL.
They’re now sixth in offensive EPA and seventh on defense. Their offensive line is dominant, their quarterback is playing incredibly well, and Ben Johnson will likely be a head coach somewhere next season."
Power ranking: 5th
Previous rank: 5th
"There was a ton of hype surrounding this team entering the season, based on how the Lions finished last season winning eight of their final 10 regular-season games, and they have picked up right where they left off. Detroit has started 5-1 for the first time since 2011, winning four consecutive games by double digits for the first time since 1991. The offense is averaging the fourth-most points per game (28) and the defense is allowing the seventh-fewest yards per game (285.5). The team is looking to change the losing narrative surrounding this franchise, and coach Dan Campbell has a lot to do with that."
Power ranking: 3rd
Previous rank: 5th
"Going on the road and limiting Tampa Bay to no touchdowns is a big day for their defense. This team is for real."
Power ranking: 2nd
Previous rank: 6th
"The Lions got one big play out of Jameson Williams. But it was a huge one, a 45-yard touchdown on third-and-10 that put the Lions in control of the game. They're deep enough that they don't need anything else from Williams, a 2022 first-round draft pick. They need him to be a threat and make an occasional big play. If he can do that, the Lions' offense can go to an even higher level."
Power ranking: 2nd
Previous rank: 3rd
"They're indeed in rare air – one more win would make them 6-1 for the first time in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). And while it can be dangerous to look too far ahead, even for a team on a four-game heater, there don't appear to be many losses on the other side of Detroit's Week 9 bye. And if their RB room gets healthy, and WR Jameson Williams continues morphing into the weapon he was intended to be? Roar."
Power ranking: 3rd
Previous rank: 4th
"The Lions, who are 13-3 in their past 16 games, have won four consecutive games by 14 or more points, which is their longest such streak since 1969. The offense is leading the way, but the run defense is sneaky good (second in the NFL, allowing just 3.3 yards per carry).
Detroit jumped Philadelphia this week because its win against the Chiefs is more impressive than anything the Eagles have done this year. (For now, we’re willing to overlook the fact that Detroit’s win against Kansas City came with both Travis Kelce and Chris Jones out.)"
