The Detroit Lions (8-8) are officially eliminated from the 2026 playoffs, following a Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With the postseason out of reach, the Lions are unsurprisingly ranked below the 14 teams expected to compete beyond the regular season. While the Lions still land in the teens across all power rankers, being the best of the eliminated teams isn’t something this team will be happy with.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings.
ESPN: 15 (Previous rank: 14)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt
from Eric Woodyard:
What we learned this season: The rushing attack isn’t unstoppable.
The backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery — aka “Sonic and Knuckles” — got off to a record-setting start together in 2023 and 2024. While nearly splitting carries, they became the first pair of teammates in NFL history to reach at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in their first 25 games together. However, as Gibbs took on a bigger snap count in 2025 (661 snaps compared with Montgomery’s 366), there was a stark contrast to their rushing attack in wins versus losses. In wins, they have averaged north of 170 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per rush. In losses, those averages drop to 69.4 and 3.1, respectively.
Sporting News: 15 (Previous rank: 14)
The Lions haven’t been running the ball like they did in previous seasons and Jared Goff has had trouble overcoming despite more gaudy net passing stats. The injuries defensively still cost them most.
The Ringer: 16 (Previous rank: 14)
Quarterback Jared Goff is in a recurring nightmare against Brian Flores. Goff’s disastrous game against the Dolphins in 2020 precipitated the end of his tenure with the Rams, and he put up a similarly awful performance on Christmas against the Flores-coordinated Vikings defense.
Games like these give us a clear view of the paradox Goff traps a franchise in. He’s too good (and his contract is too expensive) for Detroit to consider replacing him, but you can never be sure that he won’t melt down like he did in Week 17. Detroit’s offense needs an excellent play caller in 2026, or else we’ll see more of Goff’s flaws going forward.
The Athletic: 17 (Previous rank: 15)
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:
Head coach check-in: Going to have to hear about it
Dan Campbell’s job isn’t in jeopardy despite his team’s elimination from playoff contention. Still, after watching the offense falter in big moments without Ben Johnson and losing three straight down the stretch, Campbell will be asked if he can get Detroit over the hump about 1,000 times this offseason. Averaging 3.6 yards per play and losing to Max Brosmer’s Vikings has consequences.
Yahoo Sports: 17 (Previous rank: 15)
Can the Lions bounce back in 2026? Their advanced metrics don’t reflect the actual disappointment of Detroit’s season. The Lions are third in DVOA behind the Seahawks and Rams. They’re 10th in offensive EPA and 13th in defensive EPA, which is respectable. Their point differential of +65 doesn’t fit a .500 team. It will be easy for everyone to talk themselves into Detroit being a team that rebounds and makes the playoffs next season.
NFL.com: 17 (Previous rank: 15)
The Lions’ playoff chase ended with a thud, even if the writing had been on the wall. Still, for a Dan Campbell team to go out as meekly as this group did on Christmas Day was eye-opening. Flawed as Detroit was coming in, this was not a team that killed itself with turnovers. Jared Goff just looked spooked after the first few giveaways against the Vikings, and it spiraled into an unrecognizable ugly for him and this team, with a half dozen turnovers by game’s end. What did we watch? Losing to a QB who didn’t complete a pass longer than 10 yards only made it more painful. Everything since the playoff loss to Washington has been disappointing and just so labored, as if the Lions felt the crush of the sky-high expectations they’d earned while going against a darned-tough schedule. I won’t count this group out, but it’s going to take some inspired work from Campbell and Co. in order to get back to those dizzying heights again.
USA Today: 18 (Previous rank: 14)
A team that hadn’t had a losing streak since 2022 could end this season on a four-game tailspin − one that would leave the Lions below .500 for the first time since 2021.
CBS Sports: 18 (Previous rank: 17)
Their season has to be considered a major disappointment. No playoffs is a bad look. Are they on the way down, or was this just an aberration?
Sports Illustrated: TBD (Previous rank: 12)
From Conor Orr:
Coming soon.
