Saturday, October 2, 2021

Detroit Lions Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 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: 28.2 (28th)
  • Best ranking: 26th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 30th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Lions in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 30

Statistically, quarterback Jared Goff has been decent. Through three games, he has completed 86 of 123 passes for a 69.9% completion rate, the highest by a Lions quarterback through the first three games of a season. He also has produced a passer rating of 92.0 or greater in each of the first three games of the season, joining Matthew Stafford (2013, 2011) as the only Lions players to do so. The biggest question mark is dealing with pressure. Goff entered the Week 3 loss to Baltimore completing 9 of 17 passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions when pressured this season. He still has to get fully comfortable in the offense, all while dealing with some key injuries, notably to wide receiver Tyrell Williams. -- Eric Woodyard

NFL.com -- Rank: 27

"These fans can smell win No. 1 on the year!" CBS play-by-play man Greg Gumbel was just stating the obvious, but it all felt like a cruel jinx after Justin Tucker kicked a 66-yard field goal to hand the Lions one of the most ridiculous losses in franchise history (this is really saying something). The absurd finish spoiled an otherwise excellent fourth quarter by the Lions, who sandwiched a Lamar Jackson interception with two scoring drives that put them ahead with 64 seconds to play. But on the Ravens' final possession, Jackson moved Baltimore just inside Detroit territory, while officials appeared to miss a crucial delay of game call before Tucker made history. Impossible.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 30

Losing the way they did to the Ravens on a 66-yard field goal has to sting. But they play hard, which is a good sign for coach Dan Campbell as he builds to something.

USA Today -- Rank: 26

It took an NFL-record 66-yard field goal from Baltimore's Justin Tucker to beat them at the gun Sunday ... eight years after Tucker beat them with a 61-yarder in a similar situation ... and 51 years after New Orleans' Tom Dempsey set a then-record with a game-winning 63-yarder as time expired.

The Athletic -- Rank: 28

Surprise! We'll go easy on the Lions after their gut-punch loss -- a 66-yard field goal off the crossbar, really? -- and go with a pleasant surprise in D'Andre Swift. The 22-year-old running back dealt with a groin injury that kept him out of the preseason and and there was some question as to whether he'd be ready for Week 1. He was, and now the second-year player has 289 yards from scrimmage in three games, looking more and more like a future fixture on offense for this rebuilding team.

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