The Detroit Lions (3-2) enter their Week 6 bye after a 45-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals, hoping they can make the right defensive adjustments to stay competitive for the rest of the season.
The Lions offense has done a lot of the heavy lifting to get them to a winning record, and they currently sit in the Top 5 rankings in several categories, including points per game (32.8, T-1st), EPA per play (+0.13, 4th), and touchdowns scored (20, T-1st), amongst others. Their offense gives them a chance
to win any given week, and their defense is taking steps forward, but is that enough to sway the national narrative?
Let’s take a closer look at this week’s national power rankings.
NFL.com: 11 (Previous rank: 16)
From Nick Shook:
The Lions wiped the floor with the Cardinals over the final three quarters of Sunday’s lopsided victory. Jared Goff distributed the ball among his many talented pass catchers, torching Arizona’s undisciplined defense for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, Detroit’s defense finally showed up! We’ll see if the latter holds with star safety Brian Branch nearing his return.
ESPN: 11 (Previous rank: 16)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Biggest issue on defense: A depleted secondary
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was under fire after Detroit gave up 30 points in three of its first four games, though the Lions enjoyed a much better performance Sunday before heading into their bye week. The biggest struggles have been in the secondary, as they’ve given up a league-high 1,487 passing yards. To Detroit’s defense, they entered the season without Pro Bowl safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. And they’re are missing safety Thomas Harper and defensive back Avonte Maddox, who are on injured reserve. Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles.
Sports Illustrated: 11 (Previous rank: 18)
From Connor Orr:
Brian Branch’s anticipated return looms as the Lions hit a bye week after throttling the Cardinals. There are worse ways to enter your break. While I am backing off my prediction that this team will win 14 games, I don’t think winning the division is off the table by any stretch.
The Athletic: 12 (Previous rank: 12)
From Chad Graff and Josh Kendall:
Sunday: Beat Cardinals 45-21
Who have you beaten? Saints, Jets, Cardinals
It’s not exactly a murderer’s row of wins for the Lions, beating up on teams that are a combined 4-11. But we knew going into this season that the Lions had one of the easiest schedules in the league, and they just need to take care of business against the bad teams. So far, they’ve done that, even if legitimate questions remain about Detroit’s defense.
USA Today: 12 (Previous rank: 15)
From Nate Davis:
QB Jared Goff has accounted for 13 TDs and nary a turnover through five weeks. If that’s not MVP-caliber, then what is?
CBS Sports: 12 (Previous rank: 20)
From Pete Prisco:
The offense continued to be good in the victory over the Cardinals, while the defense made strides. They got pressure up front, which helped the bad secondary.
Sporting News: 13 (Previous rank: 18)
From Vinnie Iyer:
The Lions realized they just need to go up big with offense to play better defense. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill each got into the pass-rush fun in the winning five-sack effort against the Cardinals.
Yahoo Sports: 13 (Previous rank: 19)
From Frank Schwab:
The Lions’ defense is likely to still be a problem, even though it played well against the Cardinals. Detroit’s offense is just fine. Jared Goff has 12 touchdowns and no interceptions through five games, which puts him in rare company.
But the engine of the offense is Jahmyr Gibbs. He leads the NFL with 747 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns. That’s a pace of 30.6 touchdowns, in range to challenge LaDainian Tomlinson’s single-season record of 31. Gibbs didn’t deny he has eyes on that record.
“Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, I’m trying,” Gibbs said, via MLive
