Week 7 Power Rankings

PFT’s Week 7 2024 NFL power rankings (1. Lions (last week No. 2; 4-1): Even with the Aidan Hutchinson injury (and despite a Week 2 loss), the Lions are the current cream of the crop.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-7-2024-nfl-power-rankings

FTW (1. Lions:  Last week’s rank: 1.  Aidan Hutchinson’s loss will hurt. You don’t just replace a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player in the middle of the season. But Hutchinson’s absence won’t change who the Lions are. They’re still going to punk you in the trenches with football’s premier offensive line. They’re still going to confound you with impeccable play design from Ben Johnson. And they’ll still bring the wood any time you dare challenge them on either side of the ball. The Lions punch first and ask questions later in an NFC conference where they should remain a heavy favorite. — RZ):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-cowboys-bears-steelers

PFN (2. Detroit Lions (4-1, Last Week: 2.  The Lions impressed with a run to the NFC title game last season, and their lone loss this year was to Tampa Bay. In that game, they had two drives get inside the Bucs’ 30-yard line, with an opportunity for the go-ahead score.  Detroit entered this season as the favorite in the NFC North and deserves to be considered as much, even with the Vikings’ undefeated start. We know this offense’s potential, especially with the continued breakout of Jameson Williams. With them ranking among the best on third down, the ceiling is the roof for this team.  That is, as long as Aidan Hutchinson is on the field. The NFL sack leader was injured during the win over the Cowboys, and a significant missed time could have altered the hierarchy of the NFC.  We are counting on the Lions to flex their muscles in Minnesota this weekend.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings/

SI (2. Detroit Lions (4–1):  Can you imagine how many agents of edge rushers on bad teams are getting calls from their clients right now asking for the opportunity to play for Dan Campbell and alongside this beefy defensive line? I expect the Lions to be aggressive to limit the wound licking period after the unfortunate Aidan Hutchinson injury.):   https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-buffalo-bills-out-of-top-10

Fox sports Brooks (3. Detroit Lions - Last week: 3.  "Bully Ball" is alive and well in Motown. Dan Campbell's squad pummels opponents behind a dominant offensive line that enables the Lions to mix force (smash-mouth run game) and finesse (dynamic aerial attack) to beat opponents into submission. Though the loss of Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg) will force defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to tweak his approach, Detroit's disruptive defense gives the Lions a balanced squad with the potential to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at season's end.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-top-10-rankings-bucky-brooks-chiefs-vikings-ravens-cowboys

SN (3. Detroit Lions 4-1 (4):  The Lions demolished the Cowboys in Dallas with a heavy dose of the running game and more big explosive pass plays from Jared Goff playing off it. They might need even more from the offense with Aidan Hutchinson (leg) unfortunately down for the long-term. In the short term, NFC North supremacy is on the line when they travel to Minnesota in Week 7.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-lions-packers-bears-cowboys/9c0e7ef297f31fffd0816747

ESPN (3. Detroit Lions (4-1)

Week 6 ranking: 4.  Lesson learned: The Lions' ground attack is elite.  Running behind a strong offensive line, Detroit's two-headed monster in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs is arguably the best RB duo in the league. After a 47-9 win in Dallas, they became the first running back duo to each produce 70 or more scrimmage yards in each of the first five games of a season. Montgomery also broke Billy Sims' (1980-81) franchise mark with eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown. Detroit's solid rushing attack also helps open the field for big targets by WRs Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown and TE Sam LaPorta. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41793922/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-poll-2024-one-lesson-learned

The Athletic (Power ranking: 3rd - Previous ranking: 6th.  The Lions were the most impressive team in the league against the Cowboys, but they lost the NFL’s sack leader when Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg. Hutchinson had 7.5 sacks and led all defensive linemen with a 25 percent pressure rate at the time of the injury. Humiliating Dallas whileJared Goff posted a 153.8 passer rating Sunday felt good, but a season with the highest expectations just got tougher.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/power-rankings-lions-embarrassed-cowboys

Fox News (3. Detroit Lions (4-1):  Losing Aidan Hutchinson was a massive blow for the Lions, but there’s no reason right now to not call them the top team in the NFC. The display they put on against the Dallas Cowboys cemented their place among the league’s elite.):  https://www.foxnews.com/sports/fox-news-digital-sports-nfl-power-rankings-after-week-6-2024-nfl-season

Yahoo (4. Lions:  Over Jared Goff’s past two games he’s 36-of-43 for 607 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. If he can solve the Vikings' defense on Sunday then you’ll hear a lot more about how well he’s playing.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-power-rankings-after-week-6-does-aidan-hutchinsons-injury-ruin-lions-super-bowl-hopes-041446586.html

CBS (4. Lions:  They came off their bye and blew out the Cowboys in impressive fashion. The injury to Aidan Hutchinson will be felt in a big way. The offense might need to do even more.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-7-power-rankings-cowboys-are-americas-mess-right-now-caleb-williams-bears-join-the-top-10/

USA Today (4. Detroit Lions (4): The league's highest-scoring team has posted its first set of consecutive 40-burgers in the Super Bowl era (since 1966). Sadly for the offense, it may not have the luxury of letting up at all given the defensive blow suffered Sunday, when Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Aidan Hutchinson was lost to a broken tibia.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/10/15/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-jets-aaron-rodgers-bills/75680726007/

Fox sports (4. Detroit Lions (4-1; ↔) - Super Bowl odds: +950.  You can't convince me the Lions weren't a little extra motivated to stick it to the Cowboys after last year's heartbreaking loss. Well, mission accomplished. That was about as thorough a performance as we got in Week 6. The only downside: As good as Detroit's offense is, it's going to have to keep humming. Unfortunately, the loss of Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia could loom large.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2024-power-rankings

PFF (4. Lions:  The Lions went on the road in Week 6 and stomped the Cowboys 47-9, with both sides of the ball looking extremely impressive. They’re now 4-1 and battle the Minnesota Vikings atop of the NFC North in Week 7. For the first time this season, both units rank top-10 in EPA per play.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-7-power-rankings-the-bears-are-rounding-into-form

NFL.com (5. Detroit Lions:  Sunday’s game was shaping up to be one of the banner victories of the Dan Campbell era … before a devastating injury to Aidan Hutchinson abruptly put a huge damper on the day. If Hutchinson’s sack of Dak Prescott is the last we see of the Pro Bowl edge rusher this season, it will be a brutal loss for a Lions team that was firing on all cylinders in Dallas, ultimately destroying the Cowboys, 47-9. To the Lions’ credit, the defense played inspired ball after Hutchinson left the game, and it's that Campbell-fueled spirit that should have even the most jaded observer believing in this team, even after such a wicked injury loss. If the offense has to carry the burden for the remainder of the season, Sunday was a pretty good reminder of what is possible. The Lions busted out all the tricks, and not all of them worked, but almost everything else did in a vicious, thorough and diverse beatdown of a broken Cowboys defense. How will the Lions respond this week against the unbeaten Vikings in Minnesota? Win or lose, I expect to see their trademark resolve in that massive divisional showdown.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-7-2024-nfl-season

Walter footbal (6. Detroit Lions (4-1) – Previously: 3.  I hate to do this because I’ve been an early supporter of the Lions, but they need to be moved down these power rankings because of Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. Losing Hutchinson will make it so much more difficult for Detroit to succeed in the playoffs.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

Average Power Ranking (52/16):  3