Final 2023 Power Ranking

PFT’s Final 2022 NFL Power Rankings (7. Lions (9-8; No. 12): One of the rare NFL teams other than the Super Bowl champ who is truly happy after their final game of the year.):  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/01/10/pfts-final-2022-nfl-power-rankings/

Yahoo (8. Detroit Lions (9-8, LW: 12):  It's rare for a non-playoff team to rightfully feel as good as the Lions should about their season. Their Week 18 win over the Packers, which gave them a winning record after a 1-6 start, seemed like a massive step. This will be everyone's pick to win the NFC North in 2023.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-chiefs-are-becoming-old-hat-but-their-budding-dynasty-is-impressive-142657186.html

Bally Sports (8. Detroit Lions (9-8, LW: 9): Their season was as much of an emotional roller-coaster — and genuinely entertaining — as Jamaal Williams’ epic postgame interview after Sunday night’s win in Green Bay.):  https://www.ballysports.com/national/news/nfl-power-rankings-the-final-no-1-team-and-who-should-win-mvp

NFL.com (9.  Detroit Lions (Previous rank: No. 10):  Don't feel sorry for the Lions. They aren't a part of the postseason, but Dan Campbell's team got everything else it could have asked for out of the 2022 season. Sunday night's 20-16 win over the Packers knocked a longtime bully out of playoff position and served as a beautiful conclusion to a hugely encouraging year. "Look, certainly I don't want to hear that anymore, the 'Same Old Lions.' That's what all this is about," Campbell said after the emotional win. "There's so many things and it all comes with winning, but yeah, I wanted to be part of building a brand-new brand." Campbell has done just that, and he deserves serious consideration in the Coach of the Year discussion as a result.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-super-wild-card-weekend-2022-nfl-season

Walter football (10. Detroit Lions NFL Power Rankings Detroit Lions (9-8) - Previously: 10.

I'm often an advocate for teams losing meaningless Week 17/18 games to help improve draft positioning, but I liked that the Lions went all out to beat the Packers. Not only did they knock out their arch nemesis; they also finished with a winning record for the first time since 2017.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

USA Today (10. Lions (11): They're fun to watch. They're fun to listen to. Their fun corps of rookie defenders compiled a record 20½ sacks. They wouldn't have been a fun assignment for the 49ers this weekend.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2023/01/10/nfl-power-rankings-2022-regular-season-complete-cowboys-jaguars/11024045002/

SI (13. Detroit Lions):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/01/10/nfl-power-rankings-bills-chiefs-49ers-eagles-playoffs

FTW (13.  Detroit Lions (Last week’s rank: 12):  Detroit couldn’t make the playoffs heading into Sunday night, but it could ruin the Packers’ season in front of a raucous crowd at Lambeau Field. So that’s what the Lions did, bracketing the Green Bay offense and exploiting its biggest weakness by bludgeoning the Pack with power runs up the middle. This sets up high expectations for 2023 and the belief that Jared Goff, despite his flaws, may once again be a franchise quarterback.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-power-rankings-playoffs-wild-card-chiefs-cowboys-bills

PFF (13. Detroit Lions):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-final-power-rankings-2022

PFN (15. Detroit Lions: The Detroit Lions were so close, but they couldn’t quite sneak their way into the playoffs. What Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are building looks on a path that the Lions have never seen before. They’ve built the trenches on offense and defense and are very close to building a legitimate contender in the NFC North.  With the sixth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them draft their QB of the future. Jared Goff played well in 2022, but he’s not the Lions’ future at the position. This league requires a level of playmaking outside of the structure that Goff simply cannot bring.  If Detroit can improve on the defensive side of the ball heading into 2023, they could be a real problem in the NFC.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings-wild-card-weekend-2023/

CBS (15. Detroit Lions:  They showed a lot by beating the Packers on the road with nothing to play for Sunday night. Jared Goff had a heck of a second half.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-seahawks-giants-take-largest-leaps-from-week-1-to-postseason-bills-start-and-end-no-1/

Average Power Ranking (121/11):  11