Thursday, September 21, 2023

Detroit Lions Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the Detroit Lions in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 8

Player: QB Jared Goff
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2024 season

Goff is playing out the four-year, $134 million contract extension he signed with the Rams in 2019. He is scheduled to make $26.975 million in 2024. But Goff could position himself for a long-term extension if the Lions have a big year. Once considered a bridge quarterback, the soon-to-be 29-year-old is playing some of the best football of his career. Goff has multiple touchdown passes in six straight home games going back to Week 9 of last season, which is the longest active streak in the NFL, and he threw 383 consecutive passes before throwing an interception on Sunday, which is the third-longest streak in league history. -- Eric Woodyard

NFL.com -- Rank: 8

After all the feel-good stories in Week 1, the Lions were served a dish of Week 2 "humble pie," as Dan Campbell said, and I won't lull you to sleep with the narrative that the loss to the Seahawks will be good for them. I'm a believer that losses should be avoided at all costs, although I understand the sentiment. If the Lions watch the game tape and feel the same way I do -- that the loss to Seattle hit too close to home, vis-a-vis the Lions that started last season 1-6 -- then maybe it will serve its purpose. But as prepared as the Lions looked for the Chiefs in Week 1, they looked just that unprepared in key moments against Seattle. The fight was there, but crisp execution wasn't. And now it appears they'll have to regroup without C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who is out indefinitely with a potentially torn pectoral, per NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 18

Losing at home to the Seahawks is not a good look for this team. The defense has to be better.

USA Today -- Rank: 9

Hopefully Sunday's loss to Seattle won't be as penal as the 2022 defeat that cost Detroit a playoff berth. Obviously didn't hurt that the rest of the NFC North also lost in Week 2.

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

We would like to take a moment to appreciate Jared Goff. He's third in the league in yards per play (7.4) and had a passer rating of 121.8 against Seattle this week. In the first half, he was 11-for-12 for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Until Sunday, Goff had gone 383 pass attempts without an interception, which is the third-longest streak in NFL history, according to ESPN Stats & Info. It might be time to say the guy's pretty good.

FOX -- Rank:

It's a bummer that Detroit didn't get to touch the ball in an overtime loss, as Seattle walked it off on the opening drive of the extra period. I still don't feel that bad for them, given that the Lions were also -3 in turnover differential, highlighted by a Jared Goff pick-six. Better ball security likely has them at 2-0. A big matchup against the undefeated Falcons coming up next.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 8

Sunday's loss wasn't a great one for the Lions, but it happens. What's more troubling is the injury report. David Montgomery could miss multiple weeks with a thigh injury. Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered what appeared to be a toe injury, and that can linger. Left tackle Taylor Decker missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Those are some problematic injuries.

PFT -- Rank: 11

The blue ski masks are better than paper bags. To avoid the latter, the Lions need to improve defensively.

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