Week 17 Power Rankings

PFF (8. Detroit Lions (Down 1) - Chance of making playoffs: 4%.  Chance of winning Super Bowl: <1%.  The Lions' loss to the Steelers in Week 16 isn’t without controversy, with a Jared Goff (78.5 grade; 12th) fumble recovery touchdown negated due to an offensive pass interference call. It’s a tough way to end a contest, but the long and short of it is the Lions had the opportunity to keep their season alive with a win — but couldn’t get it done.  The defense, which has fallen off a cliff, allowed 8.5 yards per rush and 230 rushing yards to a Steelers offense that hasn’t always looked like the most explosive unit. The Lions are now 8-7, and their race is run. It’s back to the drawing board this offseason.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-17-power-rankings-panthers-and-chargers-rise-ravens-tumble

PFN (11. Detroit Lions - Last Week’s Ranking: 10.  Playoff Odds: 21.7%.  In an explosive shootout that went down to the very last play, the Detroit Lions just narrowly missed out on what would’ve been an impressive comeback victory over the Steelers on Sunday. They fell to 8-7 as a result of that loss.  After losing against the Steelers, Detroit is no longer mathematically able to win the NFC North. As far as making the playoffs goes, they will need plenty of help going their way for the rest of the regular season. The Lions need to win their remaining two games, and they also need the Packers to lose their next two games.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-2025/

SI (12. Detroit Lions (8–7) - Last week’s ranking: No. 13.  Last week’s result: lost to Steelers, 29–24.  This week: at Vikings.  Forget about the ridiculous nine-minute long, strangely narrativized explanation for the offensive pass interference at the end of this game. This was the call that officials should be hiding from on Monday morning. The one that actually cost the Lions a postseason berth.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-bears-jaguars-ascend-after-statement-victories

SN (14. Detroit Lions 8-7 (13):  The Lions have been struggling to run the ball at will like they did last season and taking that element away, as the Steelers did. That and an injury-depleted defense have been the downfall for Detroit as a playoff contender.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-seahwks-patriots-jaguars-bears-packers/fb7f45f2be8db3fe5da8268b

Walter football (14. Detroit Lions (8-7) – Previously: 8.  What a truly pathetic performance by the Lions. I don’t understand how they couldn’t score against a defense missing T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. And yet, their defense was even worse, as they allowed Jaylen Warren to look like the second coming of Jim Brown.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

ESPN (14. Detroit Lions (8-7) - Week 16 result: Lost to the Steelers 29-24.  Week 16 ranking: 12.  Rookie of the year: Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.  Although TeSlaa has received limited action, the rookie receiver has been a star in his role. Five of his 12 receptions have gone for touchdowns. He has also produced several jaw-dropping plays, including a ridiculous one-handed grab for his first career touchdown in Week 1 against the Packers. TeSlaa is the fourth rookie wide receiver in franchise history to log at least five touchdown receptions, joining Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021), Titus Young (2011) and Roy Williams (2004). -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47389978/nfl-week-17-power-rankings-poll-32-teams-2025-best-rookies

Touchdown wire (14. Detroit Lions (8-7)):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/touchdown/2025/12/23/week-17-nfl-drama-explore-the-surprising-new-power-rankings-around-the-league/87890783007/

USA Today (14. Detroit Lions (13): Their first losing streak since 2022 could also lead to their first playoff absence since 2022.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2025/12/23/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-rams-49ers-seahawks-jaguars/87892715007/

FTW (15. Detroit Lions - Last week: 13.  The backbreaking weight of the Lions' defensive injuries and their alarming lack of cohesion on offense finally caught up to them. That the Steelers were able to amass over 200 yards rushing as a team without much resistance speaks to a Lions group that might be running on empty, trying to save a season that is likely already lost. Dan Campbell's team will go down swinging. The issue is that I'm unsure of how strong the Lions' punch still is. — RZ):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/12/22/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-bears-steelers-seahawks/87883074007/

Fox sports (15. Detroit Lions - Previously ranked: 12.  Their miracle, season-saving comeback attempt fell short in bizarre fashion. When they are officially eliminated — and they will be — blame the defense, which has been surprisingly bad.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-nfl-power-rankings-week-17-does-nfcs-road-super-bowl-run-through-west

NFL.com (15.  Detroit Lions:  The Lions’ season, for all intents and purposes, might have come to an end on a failed fourth-and-goal play -- one of the wilder ones you’ll see -- and it was somewhat fitting for a frustrating campaign in Detroit. Their playoff chances aren’t completely gone, but it’s going to take something miraculous to get them in now. Two more road games remain, and the Lions need to win one just to avoid finishing below .500. They just never caught fire after the bye, and on Sunday, they suffered a second straight loss for the first time in more than three years. Detroit’s run game has stalled, and a beat-up offensive line has something to do with that. The Steelers also had their way with the Lions' defense, which has been competitive but unable to stop the bleeding. It’s a tough finish for a team that had taken the league by storm the past two seasons. It doesn’t appear to be in the cards this time around.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-17-2025-nfl-season

Yahoo (15 (13): Detroit Lions (8-7)

There has been angst about the officiating, but what were the Lions doing making it that close against the Steelers at home? And, to go a step further, how did the Lions get themselves in a position to need to beat Pittsburgh to realistically stay alive for the playoffs? This season has been an utter disappointment. They’re 4-6 since Week 5. And with many massive contracts on the books with more big extensions to come, it’s possible we’ve already seen the peak for this Lions core.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-panic-meter-buccaneers-have-been-miserable-for-weeks-and-it-cost-them-1st-place-in-the-nfc-south-142227179.html

PFT (15. Lions (No. 13; 8-7): After they blew a 17-point lead in the 2023 NFC Championship, coach Dan Campbell said this may have been their only shot. He may have been right.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-17-2025-nfl-power-rankings-seahawks-reign-supreme

The Athletic (Power ranking: 15th.  Last ranking: 13th.  For all the concern about how Detroit would fare after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it has been the defense that has fallen apart this season. The offense remains one of the game’s best, but the defense ranks 26th in EPA per play since Week 8.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/average-detroit-lions-team-dips-again-week-17-power-rankings

CBS (17. Lions:  They face long odds to make the playoffs now, which has to be a major disappointment for a team with high expectations coming into this year. The defense is bad.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-17-power-rankings-caleb-williams-jayden-daniels-bears-commanders/

Average Power Ranking (193/14):  14