Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Week 6 Power Rankings


The Big lead (9. Detroit Lions: The Lions are the highest-scoring team in the league, yet they are only 3-2. This is like the movie Groundhog Day for the Lions. Every year seems to be the same; they have a high-flying offense, but their defense lets them down. And when the playoffs come, other teams hold their offense in check, and their defense just isn’t good enough.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-6-2026/

Fox sports Brady (10. Detroit Lions - Record: 3-2.  Previous ranking: Unranked.   Week 5 result: 45-21 win @ Cardinals.  Brady’s thoughts: For a neutral observer, the Lions could be the most fun team in football right now. Granted, that might not be what the Lions’ fans want to hear.  And I’ve got no notes for Jared Goff. He’s got the highest-scoring offense in football. Overall, it’s just a solid football team. They’re tough to beat. They’ve got a veteran head coach. They’ve got a great quarterback. It buys them a lot of time to figure out this defense — and yeah, uh, the defense.  But, until then, enjoy the fireworks.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/tom-bradys-nfl-power-rankings-week-6-49ers-vikings-chiefs

Walter Football (11. Detroit Lions (3-2)Team Hub - Previously: 12.  The Lions got off to a rocky start against the Cardinals but bounced back incredibly well. Unfortunately for us, Jared Goff couldn't quite complete the ladder, falling just four yards shy of the top rung. We've been snakebitten on those this year, but we'll get them soon.):  https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php

ESPN (11. Detroit Lions (3-2) - Week 5 result: Beat the Cardinals 45-21.  Week 5 ranking: 16.  Biggest issue on defense: A depleted secondary.  Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was under fire after Detroit gave up at least 30 points in three of its first four games, though the Lions enjoyed a much better performance Sunday before heading into their bye week. The biggest struggles have been in the secondary, as they've given up a league-high 1,487 passing yards. It should be noted that the Lions entered the season without Pro Bowl safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. And they're missing safety Thomas Harper and defensive back Avonte Maddox, who are on injured reserve. Branch should return for Week 7 after being sidelined since December because of a torn Achilles. -- Eric Woodyard):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50166454/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-teams-biggest-issue-defense

NFL.com (11.  Detroit Lions - The Lions wiped the floor with the Cardinals over the final three quarters of Sunday's lopsided victory. Jared Goff distributed the ball among his many talented pass catchers, torching Arizona's undisciplined defense for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, Detroit's defense finally showed up! We'll see if the latter holds with star safety Brian Branch nearing his return.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-2026-nfl-season

SI (11. Detroit Lions (3–2) - Last week’s ranking: No. 18.  Last week’s result: beat Cardinals, 45–21.  This week: idle.  Brian Branch’s anticipated return looms as the Lions hit a bye week after throttling the Cardinals. There are worse ways to enter your break. While I am backing off my prediction that this team will win 14 games, I don’t think winning the division is off the table by any stretch.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/conor-orr-week-6-nfl-power-rankings-49ers-bills-vikings

CBS (12.  Detroit Lions:  Lions The offense continued to be good in the victory over the Cardinals, while the defense made strides. They got pressure up front, which helped the bad secondary.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/priscos-nfl-week-6-power-rankings-49ers-packers/

USA Today (12. Detroit Lions (15): QB Jared Goff has accounted for 13 TDs and nary a turnover through five weeks. If that's not MVP-caliber, what is?):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2026/10/13/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-bills-rams-49ers-chiefs-vikings/92226875007/

Athletic (12. Detroit Lions (3-2) - Last week: 12.  Sunday: Beat Cardinals 45-21.  Who have you beaten? Saints, Jets, Cardinals.  It’s not exactly a murderer’s row of wins for the Lions, beating up on teams that are a combined 4-11. But we knew going into this season that the Lions had one of the easiest schedules in the league, and they just need to take care of business against the bad teams. So far, they’ve done that, even if legitimate questions remain about Detroit’s defense.  Up next: Bye):  https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7684474/2026/10/13/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-vikings-bears-raiders-cowboys/

SN (13. Detroit Lions 3-2 (18) - The Lions realized they just need to go up big with offense to play better defense. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill each got into the pass-rush fun in the winning five-sack effort against the Cardinals.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-6/aa7e26ccbcbf70aca449ebdd

Yahoo (13. Detroit Lions (3-2, LW: 19) - The Lions' defense is likely to still be a problem, even though it played well against the Cardinals. Detroit's offense is just fine. Jared Goff has 12 touchdowns and no interceptions through five games, which puts him in rare company.  But the engine of the offense is Jahmyr Gibbs. He leads the NFL with 747 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns. That's a pace of 30.6 touchdowns, in range to challenge LaDainian Tomlinson's single-season record of 31. Gibbs didn't deny he has eyes on that record.  "Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, I'm trying," Gibbs said, via MLive.):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-6-someone-has-to-win-nfc-east-among-disappointing-cowboys-commanders-giants-and-eagles-042031377.html

Fox sports (14. Detroit Lions - Record: 3-2.  Previous ranking: 16.  If the MVP wasn’t basically a quarterback award, there would be a heck of a race brewing between Detroit RB Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson. Gibbs scored his eighth and ninth touchdowns on Sunday and added another 207 total yards to his season. And he did it on a day when QB Jared Goff threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, too.   As I’ve said before, the Lions can run up the score on anyone. It’s their defense that’s the problem. They did a fine job against the young and QB-challenged Cardinals on Sunday. If they can fix their defensive issues during the bye week, they might be an actual contender when they return.  Next game: BYE.  Stat To Know: The Detroit Lions have started 3-2 or better in four straight seasons, which is the first time this has happened since 1968-72 (five straight seasons).):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-power-rankings-week-6

FTW (14. Detroit Lions - Last week: 18.  The Lions emptied the tank on their early-season frustrations against the Cardinals. They scored 45 points and amassed over 400 yards of offense despite starting the game with three straight 3-and-outs. That's the sort of course correction that builds momentum to buoy a team's season. We'll see if the Lions can maintain this for a tough two-game homestand against Green Bay and Minnesota after their upcoming bye week. — RZ):   https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/10/13/nfl-power-rankings-week-6-packers-patriots-commanders/92225404007/

PFN (14. Detroit Lions - Last Week’s Ranking: 20.  Offense Rank: 1.  Defense Rank: 31.  Playoff Odds: 43.00%.  Going into the Detroit Lions’ matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, it felt like whichever offense would perform the best against the other team’s disappointing defense would win the game. The Lions proved to be that better offense, as they scored 45 points in their victory in Week 5.  Jared Goff threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, and Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 151 yards with two rushing touchdowns in the Lions’ victory. Their defense still needs a lot of work, but the unit showed some encouraging flashes against Arizona, sacking Jacoby Brissett five times in the win.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/week-6-nfl-power-rankings-2026/


Fansided Jason LaCanfora (21. Detroit Lions - Last Rank: 21.mmWeek 5 Result: def. Cardinals, 45-21.  The offense is going to have to carry them. It feels like it's been a while since they got to play with a lead and flex their muscles, and winning at home, given how their defense is especially vulnerable on the road, is nothing short of vital.):  https://fansided.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-6-brian-flores-vikings-humming-raiders-and-eagles-flailing

PFT (21. Lions (No. 21; 2-3): Nothing helps a bad defense like playing a bad offense.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-6-2026-nfl-power-rankings

Average Power Ranking (228/18):  13
Posted by LionsFan at 7:53 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
.main-inner .sidebar .Poll { background-color: #AD966C; padding: 15px; }