ESPN (8. Detroit Lions - Chances to make the playoffs: 71.4%. Chances to win division: 40.4%
Projected wins: 10.5. Strength of schedule: Second easiest
2025 record: 9-8. Biggest strength: The offense. Although Detroit enters the season under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, it still has veteran QB Jared Goff running the show along with an elite group of playmakers -- including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta -- capable of scoring against any opponent. Despite a 9-8 finish last season, Detroit still finished top five in points per game (28.3). -- Eric Woodyard. Biggest concern: Injuries. Several key players will begin the season on the injured reserve list, including RB Isiah Pacheco (back), center Cade Mays (wrist) and safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee), meaning they'll miss a minimum of the first four games. After finishing last in the NFC North, the Lions could benefit from an easier schedule, but they'll have to adjust until at least Week 5. -- Woodyard. QB stat to know: Improved pass protection for Goff will be key. Last season, he had a QBR of 76 from a clean pocket, but that declined to 14 when he was pressured. That was the second-largest drop-off in the NFL ahead of only Mac Jones. -- ESPN Research. Best-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 13-4. Worst-case scenario for 2026, per FPI: 8-9. This season is a success if ... the Lions return to the postseason. Detroit missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022 last season. The organization has committed over $1 billion in contracts and extensions over the past two years and is seeking a return on its investment. -- Woodyard. One key fantasy nugget: St. Brown remains one of the league's most consistent receivers with at least 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons. And he has averaged 18.8 fantasy points during that stretch. St. Brown will again be the top target in an explosive Lions offense. -- Bowen. Bold prediction for 2026: Edge Aidan Hutchinson will win Defensive Player of the Year. Hutchinson ranked fourth in pass rush win rate last season, plays a ton of snaps and the Lions face the second-easiest schedule. Put that all together, and the result should be a ton of sacks for Hutch. -- Walder): https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49825684/nfl-team-previews-2026-predictions-fantasy-nuggets-rankings-depth-charts
SI (8. Detroit Lions: Easy schedule + upgraded play-caller + a little bit more health and stability across the front seven = a nine win team from 2025 winning double-digit games in 2026. Certainly the secondary is a concern, but the way Detroit can deploy itself schematically, I’m less worried about the team getting gouged in the passing game. At the very least, the Lions can score enough to keep pace.): https://www.si.com/nfl/conor-orr-preseason-nfl-power-rankings-defending-champs-two
TheBigLead (8. Detroit Lions - Week 1: vs. New Orleans Saints, Sunday, September 13, 1:00 PM ET. Detroit’s two starting safeties both open on the reserve PUP list, so neither can play before Week 5. Brian Branch is rehabbing a torn Achilles. Kerby Joseph is coming back from a knee injury that cost him 13 games. Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox start in their place. Center Cade Mays is on injured reserve with a wrist injury.): https://www.thebiglead.com/nfc-power-rankings-week-1-2026-nfl-season/
Athletic (9. Detroit Lions - Last ranking: 10. First game: vs. Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET. Mock’s projected win total: 10.3. After missing the playoffs last season, the Lions will benefit from one of this year’s easiest schedules. The division will be tough, but they have a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing and more depth on the defensive line. Still, the secondary could have some struggles early due to injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, each of whom begins the season on the PUP list.): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7552755/2026/09/08/nfl-power-rankings-week-1-rams-seahawks-bills/
Yahoo (9. Detroit Lions (LW: 6) - The Lions traded David Montgomery and might regret it. Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve with general manager Brad Holmes saying he is "hopeful" Pacheco returns this season. The current backups are Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki. They have a combined nine carries for 29 yards in the NFL. The Lions desperately need Jahmyr Gibbs to stay healthy. They are also very thin in the secondary to start the season.): https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nfl-power-rankings-are-the-bills-and-josh-allen-the-biggest-threat-to-the-rams-reign-071327328.html
Walter Football (9. Detroit Lions (9-8)Team Hub - Previously: 9.
I was very bearish on the Lions last year, so much so that I bet them to miss the playoffs. Things are looking up this year, however. Repairs were made to the offensive line, while the defense will be healthier. Upgrades were also made to the coaching staff. Something else to keep in mind is that the Lions have a very easy schedule this year because they finished last in the division. The schedule is so easy that Evan Daniel labeled it as "joke."): https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php
PFF (10. Detroit Lions - Odds to make playoffs: 67%. Odds to win Super Bowl: 5%. The Lions were one of the more disappointing teams last season, missing the playoffs outright after being besieged by defensive injury. Detroit will still feel the effects of the injury bug early in the season — missing players like Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Cade Mays — but the team returns a high-flight offense under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Detroit owning the third-easiest schedule per PFF’s model is another reason to buy into the Lions looking more like the force we’ve seen in recent seasons.): https://www.pff.com/news/2026-nfl-week-1-power-rankings-rams-seahawks-begin-season-on-top
USA Today (11. Detroit Lions (10): If you subscribe to the theory that good teams are strong up the middle … then this one could be in trouble with C Cade Mays and starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph all at least a month away from playing. At least the Lions can lean on RB Jahmyr Gibbs, though there's zero safety net behind a bona fide star who's played fewer than 60% of this offense's snaps through the first three seasons of his career.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2026/09/08/nfl-power-rankings-week-1-patriots-seahawks-rams-cowboys/91653680007/
SN (15. Detroit Lions (16): The Lions are facing their first real adversity in the Dan Campbell revival era, having missed the playoffs at 9-8 last season. The defense remains a work in progress behind Aidan Hutchinson. The offense is headed toward being more pass-reliant with Jared Goff.): https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-1/75fb5a51d7b5059994f305b4
Fox sports (13. Detroit Lions - Previously ranked: 15. Super Bowl odds: +1900. I was all ready to move the Lions up even further, but the back injury to No. 2 RB Isaiah Pachecho has made me hesitate. Looks like Jahmyr Gibbs will have to earn his three-year, $67.5 million extension from the start.): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-power-rankings-where-every-team-stands-heading-season
PFT (14. Lions (No. 14; 0-0): Falling into a fourth-place schedule gives them the inside track to winning the division.): https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-1-2026-nfl-power-rankings
NFL.com (15. Detroit Lions: The sidelining of center Cade Mays (wrist) has me feeling uneasy about this offense as Detroit embarks on a new campaign. Tight end Sam LaPorta followed up back surgery with a hip injury in August, which isn't great, but I think the Lions still have the edge over the Saints in Week 1.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-1-2026-nfl-season
CBS (19. Lions: They will again score a lot of points on offense, but there are issues on defense. The secondary is a mess.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/priscos-nfl-week-1-power-rankings-jaguars-cowboys-deserve-attention-rams-super-team-too-good-to-be-true/
Average Power Ranking (153/14): 11
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