Saturday, November 4, 2023

Detroit Lions Week 9 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 9 roundup for the Detroit Lions in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 8

Jared Goff is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career with the Lions atop the NFC North standings. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has surrounded the former No. 1 overall pick with many new players, including rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Goff has 2,174 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions through the first eight games. He said his game has evolved with more reps and by maturing as a player since arriving in Detroit in 2021. -- Eric Woodyard

NFL.com -- Rank: 7

After the blowout loss at Baltimore, I thought the Lions were poised to come out on Monday night and blow the roof off Ford Field. Instead, Detroit's drives repeatedly bogged down in Las Vegas territory, making the game a lot tighter than it should have been. Three Lions turnovers -- including a brutal, 75-yard pick-six -- also allowed the Raiders to hang around. Credit Aaron Glenn's defense for consistently harassing Jimmy Garoppolo; third-year DT Alim McNeill might be a Pro Bowler. Meanwhile, No. 12 overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs enjoyed a breakout game (189 yards and a touchdown on 31 touches), serving as Detroit's offensive engine with David Montgomery sidelined by injury. The Lions had to shuffle some pieces on the offensive line, but the results were great, as Gibbs and Craig Reynolds really carved up Las Vegas' run defense. Not the prettiest win, and you can bet Dan Campbell rues the sloppiness, but it was an important victory after the Lions' credentials were questioned a bit last week.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 9

They bounced back in a big way against the Raiders, although they did leave points on the field. Against a good team, that will kill them. Jahmyr Gibbs was outstanding.

USA Today -- Rank: 7

Their fourth consecutive prime-time win, extending to last season's regular-season finale, is their best since the AFL and NFL merged in 1970. Monday night's win was Detroit's first under the lights at Ford Field since 2018, and it happened in dominant fashion as the Lions outgained the Raiders by more than 300 yards.

The Athletic -- Rank: 5

Something scary (for others): A playoff game at Ford Field

There has never been one. The last time Detroit hosted a playoff game was on Jan. 8, 1994, and their home field was the Pontiac Silverdome then. The Silverdome has since been demolished, and General Motors doesn't even make Pontiacs anymore. But the Lions are good again, and their home field was raucous for "Monday Night Football" as rookie Jahmyr Gibbs had a breakout game with a season-high 152 rushing yards. Imagine it for a playoff game. The Eagles should make sure the Lions stay in their rearview mirror.

FOX -- Rank: 6

The scoreline doesn't reflect how dominant Monday night's win was. Too many field goals and a Jared Goff pick-six will do that. But the Lions controlled the Raiders throughout, with their defense in particular flexing some muscle. Perhaps the most noteworthy development: welcome to the show, Jahmyr Gibbs. The rookie running back looked like the difference-maker he was billed as on Monday night.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 5

Jahmyr Gibbs went off for 189 total yards. Every week, it seems the Lions' ceiling gets higher. And if you take a look at the Lions' easy remaining schedule, much like the Jaguars in the AFC, they're positioned very well to make a run at a No. 1 seed.

PFT -- Rank: 8

The No. 1 seed isn't impossible, given the schedule.

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