Week 3 Power Rankings

Walterfootball (13. Lions:  Underrated NFL Team: See why the Lions are an overrated NFL team in our new Overrated-Underrated page.):  http://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

MLive (No. 15 -- Detroit Lions (1-0-1): Detroit won its home opener against Los Angeles in thrilling fashion 13-10. Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay connected for a score in the fourth quarter, and Darius Slay intercepted a pass in the end zone with 1:03 left. Stafford threw two interceptions but tossed two perfectly aggressive throws on Detroit’s game-winning drive that few people around the league could make. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai is up for rookie of the week after forcing a fumble on the 1-yard line on a would-be touchdown dive by Austin Ekeler. Week 3: at Philadelphia):  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/09/mlives-week-3-nfl-power-rankings-lions-on-the-rise-after-beating-chargers-13-10.html

CBS (16. Lions):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings/

SI (19. Lions:  Kerryon Johnson alone is reason to watch the Lions.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/09/17/power-rankings-week-three-cowboys-49ers-bills-rise-steelers-saints-fall

ESPN (20. Detroit Lions (1-0-1) - Pleasant surprise: Cornerback Rashaan Melvin had a down 2018 and signed with the Lions in a bid to resurrect his career. Through two weeks, he has given Detroit a good option opposite star Darius Slay, making the Lions' secondary vastly more difficult to deal with. Melvin, who is seeing a lot more attention because of Slay's shutdown abilities, has 13 tackles and five pass breakups over the first two weeks and is on pace to obliterate his career-best pass breakups mark of 13, set in 2017. If he keeps playing like this, he might warrant a much larger contract after the season. -- Michael Rothstein):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27624757/week-3-nfl-power-rankings-1-32-poll-plus-most-pleasant-surprise-team

SN (20. Detroit Lions, 1-0-1 (24):  The Lions are not a bad team; they're just the fourth best team in a loaded NFC North. Their offense looks more versatile than it has been in a while, and some of their defensive investments are paying off for Matt Patricia. He is off to a much better start in his second year as coach.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-seahawks-49ers-bills-steelers-saints-week-3/aknjyzjcchzi1lb9764pcrm9p

NFL (20. Lions:  There's nothing like a dramatic comeback win at home to wash out the bad taste of last week's disappointing draw with the Cardinals. Kenny Golladay was the hero, pulling in the Matthew Stafford 31-yard touchdown pass with 7:21 to play to put the Lions ahead for good in the fourth quarter. Golladay -- who finished with eight catches for 117 yards and the TD -- looks like he'll build off the 1,000-yard season of a year ago that seemed to announce the Lions had found their playmaking successor to Calvin Johnson at wide receiver. Golladay's big frame and explosive athleticism pop off the screen, and it's clear by Stafford's throws that he has a lot of faith in his 25-year-old teammate. Lastly, let's give some props to cornerback Darius Slay, who got humbled by Keenan Allen for the better part of four quarters, then saved the day with an end-zone interception of Philip Rivers in the final minutes.):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001055967/article/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-cowboys-hit-top-five-saints-sink

Freep (20. Lions (1-0-1):  The Lions got a big bounce-back win Sunday, but they didn’t look particularly good in the process.):   https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/09/17/nfl-power-rankings-week-3/2348890001/

Yahoo (20. Detroit Lions (1-0-1, LW: 24):  T.J. Hockenson followed up his record-setting debut with a single catch for 7 yards. Not many rookie tight ends have instant success. At least the Lions got the win, even as they figure out what will work best on offense.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-without-their-star-q-bs-how-far-do-saints-and-steelers-fall-034912555.html

USA Today (20. Lions (27): They're running quite a bit, which is nice, though at only 3.5 yards a clip. Good thing QB Matthew Stafford has apparently returned to form.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/09/17/week-2-nfl-power-rankings-cowboys-packers-chiefs/2348320001/

AP Pro32 (20. Lions):  https://pro32.ap.org/poll

FTW Power Rankings (21. Lions):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/09/nfl-power-rankings-week-2-patriots-vikings-saints-cardinals-giants

PFT Power Rankings (22. Lions (1-0-1; No. 27): Second place in the NFC North through two games is a lot better than anyone expected.):  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/17/pfts-week-three-power-rankings-2/

Touchdown Wire Doug Farrar (22. Lions:  Through two games of the 2019 season, the story of the Lions is largely the same as it has been: Matthew Stafford equally tantalizes and frustrates with his arm talent, Stafford’s receivers are very gifted with inconsistent production as a result, and second-year running back Kerryon Johnson has the ability to be a feature back if he’s given the opportunity. What we’re waiting for in the second year of the Matt Patricia Experience is the lockdown defense New England’s former defensive coordinator promised when he took over and got “his guys.” If that doesn’t happen soon, Patricia will look more and more like another Bill Belichick acolyte who can’t take the altitude at the rank of head coach.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/09/16/nfl-week-3-power-rankings-quarterback-injuries-dominate-headlines/2/

PFF (24. DETROIT LIONS: The Lions remained undefeated (1-0-1) following a come-from-behind victory against the Chargers, but the team still hasn’t moved much from their opening ranking. It’s difficult for the Lions to have been more average so far this year (16th-ranked offense; 17th-ranked defense by grade). The team faces a gauntlet for the next four weeks against the Eagles, Chiefs, Packers and Vikings.):  https://www.pff.com/news/pro-2019-pff-week-3-nfl-power-rankings

Average Power Ranking (292/15):  19