The Detroit Lions opened the 2026 season with a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, and while a win is a win in the “ugly” month of the season, not all national writers were left impressed or optimistic.
Let’s take a look at where the national media believe the Lions stand entering the 2026 season in this week’s power rankings.
The Athletic: 8 (Previous rank: 9)
From Chad Graff and Josh Kendall:
What we learned: A throwing motion negates a fumble
The Lions were saved when an apparent Jared Goff fumble was ruled an incompletion
thanks to a statute many had never heard of before. The Lions went on to survive a crazy second-half comeback by the Saints that exposed several significant flaws. But, hey, they’re still 1-0 entering a big Thursday night showdown.
Yahoo Sports: 9 (Previous rank: 9)
From Frank Schwab:
The Lions almost blew a 21-0 lead. They held on when they forced an incompletion on a 2-point conversion in overtime. Detroit’s defense had played very well in building that lead, then let the Saints back in the game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell blamed the offense’s inefficiency for the lead slipping away. “I’m like, man, we’ve got to be more efficient on offense,” Campbell said. “We kind of spit and sputtered there and then they … had some tempo going.”
The Lions face a very tough Week 2 game against the Bills, who will host their first regular-season game in their new stadium Thursday night.
Sports Illustrated: 10 (Previous rank: 8)
From Connor Orr:
A slightly more conservative Lions offense than we’re used to, with Jared Goff throwing at about half the average depth of target as Tyler Shough, but an efficient one nonetheless. I liked the Drew Petzing wrinkle of lining Penei Sewell back up on the right side and then rushing opposite to keep the Saints on their heels. The Lions’ secondary is going to be their cross to bear in 2026, but can the offense be so good it doesn’t matter?
ESPN: 11 (Previous rank: 8)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Non-QB newcomer debut: OC Drew Petzing
Week 1 certainly wasn’t pretty, but Petzing’s offense looked like a well-oiled machine as it marched downfield for a 10-play, 70-yard drive in overtime that was capped by a 4-yard touchdown grab from WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Petzing spent his past three seasons in Arizona, and in his Lions debut, he helped RB Jahmyr Gibbs record a career-high 34 touches. Quarterback Jared Goff thought Petzing “adjusted good” and “settled us down when we needed it and got us into the right plays.
USA Today: 12 (Previous rank: 11)
From Nate Davis:
If you didn’t think missing starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch was a big deal, then you didn’t see Saints QB Tyler Shough raid this defense for 410 yards through the air Sunday.
NFL.com: 13 (Previous rank: 15)
From Nick Shook:
The Lions played with a level of sloppiness typical of Week 1 but still managed to build a comfortable lead before watching it evaporate in the second half and scrambling to hang on for an overtime win. It’s not an ideal way to start the season, but credit Detroit for bouncing back from a dramatic collapse to record the victory.
Sporting News: 13 (Previous rank: 15)
From Vinnie Iyer:
The Lions were pushed into an overtime grind with the game Saints, bringing up lingering concerns about their defense outside of Aidan Hutchinson. But the high-priced trio of Jahmyr Gibbs, Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown saved the day, like they often will need to do.
CBS Sports: 15 (Previous rank: 19)
From Pete Prisco:
They beat the Saints, but it was a lot tougher than expected. The secondary is going to be a problem until they get their starting safeties back.
The Ringer: TBD (Previous rank: 16)
From Diante Lee: Article not released at the time of publishing.
