For many NFL teams, a bye week offers a chance to rest, recover, and reset their focus as they push through the rest of the season. It also creates a mixed bag of perspectives on where they stand relative to the rest of the League.
For example, the Detroit Lions entered their Week 6 bye in second place in the NFC North, yet they open Week 7 in fourth place, as the Minnesota Vikings were also on a bye and the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers each won last Sunday, vaulting them ahead of Detroit in the standings.
From a national perspective, that was enough for a few analysts to drop the Lions a spot in their power rankings. However, other national analysts moved the Lions up in their rankings, as other NFL teams—outside the NFC North—have lost some of their luster.
Let’s take a closer look at this week’s national power rankings.
The Athletic: 9 (Previous rank: 12)
From Chad Graff and Josh Kendall:
Fantasy focus: Jared Goff
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the low-hanging fruit. He’s leading all fantasy scorers with 30.7 points per game, but that was expected. How about Goff, who is third among quarterbacks in scoring (23.0 ppg)? The 11-year veteran has 12 touchdowns and no interceptions and is fourth in EPA per dropback (0.29).
Sports Illustrated: 11 (Previous rank: 11)
From Connor Orr:
The Packers and Vikings are next on Detroit’s post-bye schedule. We’ll find out immediately if the defense was fixed, has the potential to be fixed, or if Jared Goff is going to continue needing to score 30-plus a week to keep the Lions in the conversation.
USA Today: 11 (Previous rank: 12)
From Nate Davis:
Still 3-2 after their bye week, they’ve fallen into the NFC North basement … but that can change fast with the Packers and Vikings coming to Ford Field the next two weeks.
CBS Sports: 11 (Previous rank: 12)
From Pete Prisco:
The bye last week was a good thing for an ailing team as they ready to face the hot Packers this week. The key is improving the bad defense going forward.
Yahoo Sports: 11 (Previous rank: 13)
From Frank Schwab:
The Lions’ bye was well timed. The next two weeks they host the Packers and Vikings. Those two games will determine if they’re a factor in a tough NFC North race.
They are also getting reinforcements. Center Cade Mays and safety Brian Branch are expected to return from injuries. The Branch return is very interesting for a defense that needs help, though Branch can’t be guaranteed to solve all problems as he comes off a torn Achilles. When healthy, Branch is a difference maker. It remains to be seen if the injury cost him any explosiveness. He won’t get a full snap share right away, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday. But just having him and Mays back gives the Lions hope that they can make a statement in the division race over the next two games.
NFL.com: 12 (Previous rank: 11)
From Nick Shook:
The Lions did nothing to deserve a one-place drop — they had a bye week, after all. Chicago’s upward movement prompted the change. Jared Goff is quietly compiling an incredibly efficient season, and the defense finally stepped up in Detroit’s lopsided Week 5 win over Arizona. Wise individuals know not to overlook the Lions.
ESPN: 12 (Previous rank: 11)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Biggest issue on offense: Third-down conversions
Detroit’s offense is tied with Buffalo for the most offensive points scored per game (32.8), which has been fueled by a strong start from veteran QB Jared Goff (12 touchdown passes with zero interceptions). But the Lions could improve on third down. They are currently ranked 22nd in third-down conversion percentage at 37.3%. And to go even deeper, Detroit is tied for dead last in third-and-short percentage (third-and-3 or less) at 43.8%
Sporting News: 14 (Previous rank: 13)
From Vinnie Iyer:
The Lions have a strange defensive dichotomy. They led the league with 20 sacks going into their Week 6 bye, but they also had the No. 32 pass defense. Their job is to turn that pressure into better results in the second half of the season.
