ESPN (1. Detroit Lions (5-2) -
Week 7 result: Beat the Buccaneers 24-9. Week 7 ranking: 2. Unsung nonstarter/role player: WR Isaac TeSlaa. The rookie has received limited snaps playing behind wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond, but TeSlaa has produced some highlight-reel plays when given opportunities. A native of Hudsonville, Michigan, he has logged only three receptions for 54 yards, though two of those receptions were TDs. The first was a spectacular one-handed grab in the season opener at Green Bay. His second career catch was another one-hander from quarterback Jared Goff against Chicago in Week 2. During the preseason, TeSlaa also logged three receiving touchdowns and is emerging as a fan favorite. -- Eric Woodyard): https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46660009/nfl-week-8-power-rankings-poll-32-teams-2025-unsung-nonstarters-role-players
NFL.com (1.
Detroit Lions: Detroit’s undermanned secondary stepped up in a massive way in Monday’s statement victory over Tampa Bay. The home team entered the night alarmingly shorthanded in the defensive backfield, and then Rock Ya-Sin had to miss some snaps with cramps. The Lions knew Baker Mayfield would keep coming, but they kept answering the bell. Despite dominating play in the first half, Detroit only led 14-3 at the break, having left a ton of points on the field with two turnovers, a turnover on downs and a missed field goal. Jared Goff’s pick before halftime helped gift the Buccaneers points, but the Lions' offense responded with a touchdown on its first drive of the third quarter and the defense played incredibly well all night, especially considering the circumstances. The Lions might have taken the Chiefs’ best punch in Week 6, but they took out their frustrations on a good Bucs team that they might see again in January.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-2025-nfl-season
The Athletic (
Power ranking: 1st. Last ranking: 6th. The job Dan Campbell has done after losing both his offensive and defensive coordinators this offseason is awfully impressive. The defense dominated the Bucs on Monday night. Offensively, the Lions leaned on the running game as Jahmyr Gibbs took 17 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Campbell’s Lions haven’t lost back-to-back games since): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/power-rankings-dan-campbell-leading-best-nfl-team
Tom Brady's NFL Power Rankings: Another Week, Another New No. 1 (1. Detroit Lions Previously ranked: 3
PFF (2. Detroit Lions (Up 2) -
Chance of making playoffs: 81%. Chance of winning Super Bowl: 9%. The Lions comfortably handled one of their biggest foes in the NFC — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — on Monday night, further emphasizing the point that they might be the top team in the NFL. A 24-9 win against the Buccaneers pushed the Lions to 5-2 on the season, highlighting both the strength of their offense and defense, even against a banged up Bucs team. The Lions now have a 9% chance of winning the Super Bowl, and top 10 in EPA per play on both sides of the ball.): https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-8-power-rankings-colts-jump-commanders-tumble
Walter football (3. Detroit Lions (4-2) – Previously: 3.
The Lions are literally the best in the NFL right now. Sure, they can lose half their offensive line, including their Pro Bowl center, and both of their coordinators, but it doesn’t matter because they’re just going to go 15-2 again. Detroit somehow lost to Kansas City. The public learned a lesson after throwing tons of money on the Lions. The lesson? Look at the injury report before betting on a team, because Detroit was down a million defensive backs.): https://walterfootball.com/nflpowerrankings.php
PFN (3. Detroit Lions - Last Week’s Ranking: 3. Offense Rank: 5. Defense Rank: 12. Playoff Odds: 62.60%. The Buccaneers are hardly easy competition, but the Detroit Lions made them look like exactly that on Monday night. Their 24-9 victory propelled them to a 5-2 record, further solidifying themselves among the NFC’s elite. With losses to the Chiefs and Packers up to this point, the Lions had been missing that high-quality win against a top opponent prior to Week 7. They handled the Buccaneers extremely well on Monday, though, and that keeps them high in the rankings this week.): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-power-rankings-week-8-2025/
On SI Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: Shocking New No. 1 Team and Biggest Lesson (
3. Detroit Lions : A lot of teams talk about the next-man-up mentality. Detroit’s coaching staff has done a masterful job of keeping players lower on the depth chart prepared and engaged. Even though the Lions played on Monday against a good Buccaneers team with essentially a whole new secondary, they gave up nine points. Detroit has one of the best coaches and coaching staffs in the National Football League. John Maakaron, Detroit Lions On SI): https://www.si.com/fannation/on-si-week-8-nfl-power-rankings-shocking-new-no-1-team-and-biggest-lesson-01k85w37tbaz
SI (4. Detroit Lions (5–2) -
Last week’s ranking: No. 5. Last week’s result: beat Buccaneers, 24–9. This week: idle. Without question, the most impressive part of Detroit’s decisive victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the strength of this patchwork secondary. This apparently wasn’t just an Aaron Glenn thing, this is a Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell thing. The Lions could field a contending defense with the remnants of the Amazon Prime analyst desk.): https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-buccaneers-tumble-after-concerning-loss-to-lions
Herd Hierarchy Week 7: Eagles Get Back on Track, Are the Colts For Real? (5. Detroit Lions -
Cowherd's thoughts: "Detroit's run game jumps off the TV set. They're 5-1 in their last six games, and they got rocked by the best team in the league easily, Kansas City. Their defense takes the ball away, gets to the quarterback. What I like about Detroit is, they get the lead, and then they get sacks; and that's the way to win in the postseason."): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/herd-hierarchy-week-7
SN (7. Detroit Lions 5-2 (7) - The Lions picked up the pieces quicly after their second loss vs. the Chiefs tough defense, which felt much like the Week 1 setback in Green Bay. They enjoyed being back at home in Ford Field with Jahmyr Gibbs and the defense taking over vs. Tampa Bay.
): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-power-rankings-colts-broncos-cowboys-vikings-commanders/91c61f6d23969ddc10f0ee50
Average Power Ranking (51/18): 3
