The roar is getting louder in Detroit as the Lions continue their climb up the NFL power rankings. Amidst a sea of red zone struggles and gritty wins, the Lions have showcased resilience that has caught the attention of analysts and fans alike.
According to ESPN, the Lions currently sit at 5th in the Week 4 rankings, maintaining their spot from the previous week. One significant issue highlighted is their red zone efficiency, with the Lions converting only 38.5% of their red zone opportunities into touchdowns. For context, they had a red zone scoring rate of 55.6% at the same point last season. Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown noted that the offense could still elevate their game despite their recent victory.
In the Sports Illustrated power rankings, the Lions are positioned 4th, just a slight drop from their previous ranking at 3rd. They highlighted Amon-Ra St. Brown's impressive performance, along with a peculiar play where he flipped the ball to rookie Jahmyr Gibbs for a 21-yard touchdown. Also mentioned was the questionable officiating during a crucial moment when Jared Goff's would-be pick six was blown dead, sparking controversy.
Yahoo Sports listed the Lions as 3rd in their Week 4 rankings, up from 5th the previous week. However, the victory came at a cost with the season-ending injury to Marcus Davenport and center Frank Ragnow sidelined with a pectoral injury. Ragnow's absence is significant given his pivotal role in the offensive line.
The folks at The Athletic also boosted the Lions to 3rd, moving up from 6th. A highlight from their performance was the remarkable connection between St. Brown and Gibbs, which resulted in one of the season's most talked-about touchdowns.
On the less optimistic side, CBS Sports ranked the Lions 10th, expressing skepticism about the team's consistency. They acknowledged the bounce-back win against the Cardinals but pointed out that the Lions still don't quite resemble the powerhouse expected this season.
In USA Today's rankings, the Lions are placed 4th, an improvement from 5th. They noted that Aidan Hutchinson continues to be a force on the defensive side, pacing toward an ambitious sack record.
MLive emphasized the Lions' avoidance of back-to-back losses since October 2022. Their dominating defensive performance against the Cardinals and the standout running game by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs were key factors in their rise to as high as 3rd in some rankings.
As the Lions prep for a showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, a team that's had their number in recent meetings, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Detroit's climb can continue. With pivotal pieces like Hutchinson and the Gibbs-Montgomery duo leading the charge, the Lions are well-positioned to keep making noise in the NFL.
Could this be the season the Lions not only roar but rule? Only time will tell!
What other sites are saying about this topic
Week 4 NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus the biggest issue on offense for every team from NFL Nation, ESPN
Power Rankings: Win Boosts Lions Back In Top Five from Sports Illustrated
NFL Week 4 power rankings: Lions move up following win over Cardinals from Erik Schlitt, Pride Of Detroit
NFL Week 4 power rankings: Lions move up after gritty road win from MLive