In Week 3, the Detroit Lions (2-1) took on a New York Jets team that was sporting one of the best defenses in the NFL to start the 2026 season. After landing near the top of most defensive statistical categories, the Jets looked like a much bigger challenge than the Lions had faced. Yet, when the lights came on at Ford Field in Detroit, quarterback Jared Goff was once again stellar, leading the Lions to 400 total yards of offense (more than the Jets allowed in their previous games combined) and scoring
31 points for the third game in a row.
While the Lions’ defense is still a major question mark and needs improvement, most national analysts believe Goff and his supporting cast—most notably Jahmyr Gibbs—are playing at such a high level that the Lions can outscore most other teams. As a result, the Lions are moving up, or staying neutral, in this week’s national power rankings.
Let’s take a closer look.
The Athletic: 6 (Previous rank: 8)
From Chad Graff and Josh Kendall:
QB confidence: Should be higher
If former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glen thought he was going to rattle Jared Goff, he was sorely mistaken. The New York Jets blitzed Goff 16 times Sunday, and the 31-year-old was 16-for-16 for 173 yards and two touchdowns on those plays. For the season, he has five touchdowns, no interceptions and a completion percentage of 86.7 when blitzed, according to TruMedia. Overall, he leads the league in touchdown passes (eight) and hasn’t thrown a pick.
USA Today: 10 (Previous rank: 10)
From Nate Davis:
How consistent has this offense been? Exactly 31 points in every game. A low of 355 yards and a high of 381. And just one turnover. If a defense that’s allowed the most points (95) in the league can hold on long enough to get some reinforcements, this team has a legit shot at finally ending the league’s longest hex of failing to qualify for the Super Bowl.
Sporting News: 11 (Previous rank: 14)
From Vinnie Iyer:
The Lions need every bit of what Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs are doing to light it up offensively with their defense porous in every which way. Shootouts follow everywhere they go and they might need to make a drastic change soon.
CBS Sports: 12 (Previous rank: 15)
From Pete Prisco:
Jahmyr Gibbs is carrying this team and is in the early MVP conversation. They have to be happy to be 2-1 with all the defensive injuries.
Yahoo Sports: 13 (Previous rank: 13)
From Frank Schwab:
The Lions have given up the most points and second-most yards in the NFL this season. They beat the Jets on Sunday but allowed 335 yards and 24 points. Two Jets, Garrett WIlson and Kenyon Sadiq, had 100-yard receiving games. Most Lions games this season will be high scoring. They’ll need the defense to make a few plays, like it did in the final minute. The Jets reached the Lions’ 28-yard line, but safety Chuck Clark sacked Geno Smith on a blitz, causing a fumble that the Lions recovered.
“And then for our defense to have to, man, they had to make that stop,” Lions head coach Campbell said. “That’s what it was going to come down to. And it was such a great call by [defensive coordinator] Kelvin Sheppard and those guys executing it.”
ESPN: 13 (Previous rank: 14)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Fantasy surprise: QB Jared Goff
It’s sometimes easy to forget about Goff’s consistency because he plays alongside elite playmakers such as RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The veteran QB is a viable starter in fantasy this season, averaging 21.9 points. Goff was the 18th-best quarterback in our draft rankings and had an ADP of 131.4. After Sunday’s win, Gibbs lauded Goff as Detroit’s “leader.” “We trust him with everything,” Gibbs said.
NFL.com: 14 (Previous rank: 13)
From Nick Shook:
We know the Lions can put up points in bunches by leaning heavily on Jahmyr Gibbs, and this offense is capable of keeping them in every game they play. Their defensive struggles in the fourth quarter remain concerning, even if a takeaway saved them from another trip to overtime.
Sports Illustrated: 14 (Previous rank: 18)
From Connor Orr:
Jared Goff is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history to start the season with more than 800 yards passing and eight touchdowns in three games. If the Lions can go out and get themselves Joey Porter, all will be right in the world, as the offense is holding up its end of the bargain.
