Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Week 16 Power Rankings

Fox sports (6. Detroit Lions (7-7): Don't you dare laugh. Sunday's win against the Jets gave the Lions six in their last seven attempts. They've beaten four playoff contenders during that stretch, and the one loss was at the gun to Buffalo. Outside of Philly and Cincinnati, no one in the league is hotter than Detroit.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-bills-lions-up-how-far-do-cowboys-drop

NFL.com (7.  Detroit Lions (Previous rank: No. 10):  The Lions can win ugly, too. Dan Campbell's Grit Monsters went to the Meadowlands and struggled to break through against a stellar Jets defense ... until it mattered most. Facing fourth-and-inches at midfield with less than two minutes to play, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (his head coach stock going up by the week) called a brilliant misdirection play that resulted in a 51-yard touchdown for Brock Wright. The Lions have won six of seven with an opportunity to move into NFL playoff position if they can take out the Panthers on Sunday. "A lot of these close games are starting to lean more toward us than them," said Jared Goff. "That hasn't always been the case around here. We fully believe in each other and know that somebody's going to make a play to do something right."):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-2022-nfl-season

Touchdown wire (8. Detroit Lions (7-7) (Last week: No. 10):  When the 2022 season is finished, there will be a clear trajectory of how the Lions affected a team’s playoff chances in the latter part of the year. It is unfathomable that Detroit is just two games away from their first winning season since 2017, and three games away from their first 10-win season since 2014.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-week-15-power-rankings-49ers-cowboys/

Yahoo (9. Detroit Lions (7-7, LW: 11):  The Jets game seemed like the one Detroit needed in the playoff race. And it came down to executing a fourth-and-inches play that went 51 yards to tight end Brock Wright for a touchdown. When is the last time the Lions made a clutch play like that? The Lions are far from a lock to make the playoffs but given how well they're playing, you have to like their chances.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-nothing-in-nfl-history-would-match-brock-purdy-leading-49-ers-to-a-super-bowl-042706506.html

FTW (9.  Detroit Lions (Last week’s rank: 12):  Break up the Lions! Since Halloween Weekend, Detroit has arguably played like the NFL’s top team. Even without a passable (but fun!) defense, Dan Campbell’s crew is clocking just about everyone.  Seriously, they are bullies with that monstrous offensive line, a brilliant OC/top head coaching candidate in Ben Johnson, and a once again viable Jared Goff. It’s a cliche — especially in a sport as random and chaotic as football — but if the buzzsaw Lions nab a playoff spot by season’s end, they are assuredly the last team any of the other NFC powers wants to face.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-cowboys-vikings-colts-jaguars

Walter football (9. Detroit Lions NFL Power Rankings Detroit Lions (7-7) - Previously: 9.  The Lions are now 7-7, yet they could be 9-5 or even better if they didn't have terrible luck earlier in the season. It seems as though people are finally beginning to realize that they are a solid team. If they had better linebacker and cornerback play, they'd be elite on both sides of the ball.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

PFN (Tier 3 | The Playoff Contenders - A few teams were added to this tier because they deserved to share space with competent football teams and not be bundled in with the NFC South.  10. Detroit Lions:  The fighting Dan Campbells are doing everything within their power to turn a 1-6 record into a playoff birth. Their offensive line is playing at an otherworldly level, and Jared Goff is complementing them with some of the best play we’ve seen from him since 2018.  But it’s been the Lions’ defense that has really turned a corner this season. Detroit’s only loss since Week 8 was a three-point loss against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12. With Carolina, Chicago, and Green Bay left on their schedule, Detroit should be one of the three NFC Wild Card teams when it’s all said and done.  It’s been an unbelievable turnaround.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-2022/

Athlon sports (10. Detroit Lions (Last week: 15):  We're at the point where the Dan Campbell should be Coach of the Year chatter has some real heft to it. Not only is this group a threat to make the postseason, but they seem to have the right call for every situation to put away wins as they've rallied to win six of the last seven.):  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings

USA Today (10. Lions (13): Feels like Dan Campbell's bandwagon is filling up with plenty of folks far removed from Motown. Detroit closes with Carolina, Chicago and Green Bay ... which projects as a nice formula for the Lions' first playoff venture in six years.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2022/12/20/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-2022-lions-cowboys/10909372002/

Bally sports (10. Detroit Lions (7-7, LW: 12): It’s time to take this team seriously as a playoff contender (see above).):  https://www.ballysports.com/national/news/nfl-power-rankings-lions-yes-the-lions-leap-into-the-top-10

PFT’s Week 16 2022 NFL Power Rankings (11. Lions (7-7; No. 15): Thirty-one years after their last playoff win, maybe they’ll have another one.):  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/12/20/pfts-week-16-2022-nfl-power-rankings/



SN (12. Detroit Lions 7-7 (17):  The Lions keep bringing heavy momentum with their offense still finding big plays from new players for Jared Goff and their defense continuing to improve in every aspect. It might be difficult to deny them a playoff berth under fiery Dan Campbell now.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-lions-giants-cowboys-patriots-week-16/atcyvy8qiixwuthukyie61xy

ESPN (12. Detroit Lions (7-7) (Week 15 ranking: 17):  Pleasant surprise: LB James Houston.  Nicknamed "Da Problem," Houston is living up to the name. The Jackson State product has been wreaking havoc over the past four weeks. The rookie was elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Thanksgiving Day game against Buffalo and has been a solid contributor, registering five sacks in his first four career games. He is the third player, since sacks became official in 1982, to record at least 1.0 sack in each of his first four contests, joining Terrell Suggs in 2003 and Santana Dotson in 1992, per ESPN Stats & Information. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35253675/2022-nfl-week-16-power-rankings-1-32-poll-pleasant-surprises

SI (12. Detroit Lions (7–7):  We hoped, we prayed, we begged and we got it: Potentially meaningful Lions football at the end of the season. Dan Campbell taking on the rest of the league, Royal Rumble style. This Jets win was a necessary one, showing Detroit that it could win on a day when the opposing offense is pulling one big play after another out of thin air.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/12/20/nfl-power-rankings-week-15-eagles-bengals-49ers-bills-chiefs


CBS (15. Detroit Lions:  After a 1-6 start, they have won six of seven games to get into the playoff race. They play another big road game this week at Carolina.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-16-power-rankings-historic-comeback-epitomizes-vikings-season-bucs-titans-among-teams-in-free-fall/

Average Power Ranking (184/18):  10


Posted by LionsFan at 11:54 AM

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