PFF (7. Detroit Lions (Down 2) - Chance of making playoffs: 34%. Chance of winning Super Bowl: 2%. The Lions did everything they could on offense. Jared Goff (77.3 grade; 12th) completed 25-of-41 pass attempts for 338 yards and three touchdowns, with receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown (90.6 grade; 3rd) and Jameson Williams (75.9 grade; 25th) combining for 298 yards and three touchdowns — but the bunch couldn’t get over the hump against an excellent Rams team. A huge part of that was due to the defense allowing 519 total yards of offense to the Rams, permitting a 62.5% success rate. The Detroit defense does still have the potential to get the job done, but the unit is now 21st in EPA per play on the year and has surrendered over 25 points in four straight games. The playoffs are still on the cards, but the defense needs to shape up.): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-16-power-rankings-broncos-climb-lions-fall
Walter football (8. Detroit Lions (8-6) – Previously: 7. The Lions managed to stay alive with a win over Dallas, but they are not in good shape. They desperately need home-field advantage because Jared Goff simply can’t play in poor weather conditions, especially when going up against a team that can generate tons of pressure. Given the Lions’ 8-6 record, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll avoid playing outside come January. They may not even make it to January, given that their record. Their pass defense has been atrocious, and they cannot beat top-tier competition.): https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php
PFN (10. Detroit Lions - Last Week’s Ranking: 6. Playoff Odds: 22.7%. Make no mistake about it: though PFSN’s analytical model has the Detroit Lions rise a spot, that doesn’t mean they should be happy with the result of their Week 15 matchup. They played tough against a Rams team that’s one of the best in the NFL, but they gave up 41 points and dropped to 8-6, putting them behind in a loaded Wild Card race. Detroit’s passing attack was on fire against Los Angeles on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the struggles of their defense. They’ll need their defense to step it up, because they’ll likely have to win out their remaining games against the Steelers, Vikings, and Bears to make the playoffs.): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/week-16-nfl-power-rankings-2025/
ESPN (12. Detroit Lions (8-6) - Week 15 result: Lost to the Rams 41-34. Week 15 ranking: 11. Extension candidate: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs is off to a record-breaking start to his young career with 47 total touchdowns, which is tied with Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns by a player in his first three seasons. Detroit has a track record of rewarding its top players, with nearly $1 billion worth of contracts signed to nine players since spring 2024. Gibbs is still on his rookie deal and has a fifth-year option in 2027, but he is eligible for an extension this offseason. -- Eric Woodyard): https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47315735/nfl-week-16-power-rankings-poll-32-teams-2025-offseason-contract-extensions
Fox sports (12. Detroit Lions - Previously ranked: 10. They went toe-to-toe with the powerful L.A. Rams. But giving up 519 yards? That’s twice in four weeks someone lit up their woeful defense for at least 500.): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-nfl-power-rankings-week-16-broncos-best-team-football
Touchdown wire (12. Detroit Lions (8-6)): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/touchdown/2025/12/16/week-16-nfl-power-rankings-top-5-shakeup-after-patriots-loss/87787688007/
FTW (13. Detroit Lions - Last week: 12. Detroit is talented enough offensively to hang with the NFL's heavyweights. The same cannot be said for its rudderless defense. Yes, Matthew Stafford is great, but a Lions unit that allows over 500 yards of offense and 7.5 yards per play in what is effectively a must-win game to have a decent shot at a playoff berth is not serious enough for the crucible of January. The Lions aren't done. But their margin for error just got that much thinner. — RZ): https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/12/15/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-cowboys-jaguars-49ers/87776824007/
Yahoo (13 (11): Detroit Lions (8-6). For 3 1/2 months, the Lions have alternated wins and losses. They haven’t had a two-game winning streak or two-game losing streak since the start of October. This is just what Detroit is. It’s an inconsistent team. The defense is not good enough after taking on key injuries. The Lions have a 96% chance to make the playoffs if they win out, according to The Athletic’s playoff simulations, but can a team that can’t win two straight games be trusted to do that?): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-16-broncos-have-best-record-but-still-seek-respect-041407178.html
PFT (13. Lions (No. 12; 8-6): They’ll be dangerous if they qualify.): https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-16-2025-nfl-power-rankings-broncos-on-top
SI (13. Detroit Lions (8–6) - Last week’s ranking: No. 8. Last week’s result: lost to Rams, 41–34. This week: vs. Steelers. While the Lions aren’t capable of scoring with the Rams sans an elite run game, I thought this was one of Jared Goff’s better games in a situation where he was clearly playing with a hand tied behind his back. If Campbell’s ethos is toughness, let’s see what the Lions have left over the next few weeks.): https://www.si.com/nfl/power-rankings-patriots-slip-out-of-top-five-after-loss-to-bills
SN (13. Detroit Lions 8-6 (12): The Lions were game with Jared Goff dueling Stafford well in the classic double-revenge game, but their beat-up defense had to submit and go into the tank in the second half. Dan Campbell's team is headed to have a year off to set up a strong comeback.): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-rams-broncos-bills-49ers-packers/301352e2da11d1df6ecaf50b
USA Today (13. Detroit Lions (8): A team this good and fun to watch? Notre Dame is definitely going to cry foul if the committee leaves the Lions out of the playoff field.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2025/12/16/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-rams-packers-patriots/87789869007/
Athletic (13. Detroit Lions (8-6) - Last week: 8. Sunday: Lost to Rams 41-34. MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is having a great year (third in splash plays), but it’s hard to laud anybody on this defense. Offensively, there are plenty of candidates, but Gibbs edges out Amon-Ra St. Brown because Gibbs is second in the league in touchdowns with 16 and fifth in scrimmage yards with 1,594. It’s going to be a shame if he’s not in the playoffs, and the Lions only have a 25 percent chance of making it after this loss.): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6891082/2025/12/16/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-broncos-bills-49ers-mvp/
NFL.com (14. Detroit Lions: Another loss has put Detroit in a deeper hole, with the playoff hopes sliding even farther away. The Lions can get in, and winning the final three would give them a great chance of doing so. That would miraculously give Detroit 11 victories against a very tough schedule. But even as explosive as the Lions were at times against the Rams, Jahmyr Gibbs was bottled up, the pass protection became leaky and the defense allowed a season-worst 41 points. I'm not going to throw dirt on Detroit's grave because I haven't even dug the hole yet, although I admit I have the shovels oiled up and ready to go. Losing Brian Branch this late in the season was a huge blow to the defense, and I don't know if the unit can make it through these final three games unscathed without him.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-16-2025-nfl-season
CBS (18. Lions: At 8-6, they can't afford more than one more loss. The defense is really an issue right now, which might be their undoing.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-16-power-rankings-packers-injuries-playoff-race/
Average Power Ranking (197/16): 12
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