Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the Detroit Lions rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 27.0 (26th)
- Best ranking: 24th (The Athletic)
- Worst ranking: 29th (NFL.com)
Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Lions in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.
The Athletic -- Rank: 24
What we learned: Their defense continues to be a complete disaster. Detroit finished 27th and 28th in defensive efficiency in Matt Patricia's first two seasons. The Lions went out and added a bunch of Patriots (Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton, Duron Harmon) in the offseason. Surprise: The defense still stinks. The Packers went up and down the field on them for 488 yards and 26 first downs. The Lions allowed six plays of 20-plus yards, including a 75-yard Aaron Jones touchdown run to start the second half. Per The Athletic's Chris Burke, Sunday marked the fourth consecutive time the Lions lost a game in which they had a double-digit lead. That's an NFL record. Through two games, the Lions' defense ranks 30th in EPA per snap.
CBS Sports -- Rank: 27
They've had a ton of injuries, which They've had a ton of injuries, which showed up in the loss to the Packers. But how long does Matt Patricia have to turn it around?
USA Today -- Rank: 28
They simply can't close, now the first team in league history to lose four consecutive games in which they'd held a double-digit lead.
ESPN -- Rank: 27
Under-the-radar fantasy standout: RB Adrian Peterson
It feels really strange putting a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in this category, but Peterson -- acquired two weeks ago -- leads the team in rushing yards and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He is going to get work every week -- although it'll often be in the form of a committee with Kerryon Johnson and D'Andre Swift -- and he still appears have the burst to break off the occasional big run, like he did Sunday with a 25-yard run to the outside. Is he an RB1? No. Is he intriguing as a flex play or an RB play in deeper leagues? Absolutely. -- Michael Rothstein
It feels really strange putting a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in this category, but Peterson -- acquired two weeks ago -- leads the team in rushing yards and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He is going to get work every week -- although it'll often be in the form of a committee with Kerryon Johnson and D'Andre Swift -- and he still appears have the burst to break off the occasional big run, like he did Sunday with a 25-yard run to the outside. Is he an RB1? No. Is he intriguing as a flex play or an RB play in deeper leagues? Absolutely. -- Michael Rothstein
NFL.com -- Rank: 29
The Lions have no idea how to close out games and it's going to get people fired. Detroit, which held a 14-3 advantage early in the second quarter against the Packers on Sunday, dropped its fourth straight game where it had a double-digit lead, a first in NFL history, according to Elias. The Lions now have blown seven double-digit leads in losses since the start of last season. Obviously, this is a poor reflection on head coach Matt Patricia, and the talk around his job security will continue to amplify with the Lions now riding an 11-game losing streak dating back to 2019. In fairness to Patricia, he continues to deal with injuries that are keeping some of his best players off the field on both sides of the ball. Still, the lack of urgency and discipline is hard not to trace back to the man in charge.
Previous update: Detroit Lions Week 2 NFL Power Rankings Roundup
More Detroit Lions pages:
- Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup
- Detroit Lions Snap Counts
- Detroit Lions Franchise Leaders
- Detroit Lions Draft History
- Detroit Lions Schedule
- Detroit Lions Tickets
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