Lions Among Worst NFL Teams in Latest Power Rankings

NFL analysts drop the Detroit Lions in their latest NFL power rankings, after a 29-0 shutout loss.

Let’s explore what the media had to say about the Detroit Lions, after they lost to the New England Patriots in Week 5.

Sports Illustrated

Week 5 rank: 27th

Previous rank: 22nd 

"Getting blanked by the Patriots was a heartbreaking moment for the Lions-will-turn-this-around crowd. With all the talent offensively (both on the field and in the coaching booth), it’s stunning to see this team sitting at 1-4."

USA Today

Week 5 rank: 26th

Previous rank: 19th

"Sunday was the first time Detroit was shut out under Dan Campbell. No word as to whether the Lions took a doughnut in the kneecaps bitten column, too."

Yahoo Sports

Week 5 rank: 29th

Previous rank: 28th

"How can a team that averages 35 points per game wind up getting shut out by New England?"

The Athletic

Week 5 rank: 27th

Previous rank: 20th

"The 2020 Lions defense fell just 14 points shy of breaking the NFL record for points allowed in a season, held by the 1981 Baltimore Colts, who surrendered 33.3 points per game. Two years later, the Lions appear dead set on finishing the job. They’re surrendering a league-worst 34 points per game and rank 32nd in defensive DVOA (30th against the pass, 31st against the rush)."

Sporting News

Week 5 rank: 30th

Previous rank: 29th

"What was that? The hottest high-scoring offense in the league failed to score a point against Bill Belichick's Patriots defense on the road. When that happens, it further exposes a defense that cannot stop anything."

The Ringer

Week 5 rank: 27th

Previous rank: 25th

"After entering the week with an NFL-high 140 points scored, the Lions were shut out against the Patriots. Quarterback Jared Goff played his worst game of the season, and the offense as a whole simply couldn’t move the chains on money downs. Detroit converted on just 33 percent of third downs (4-of-12) and none of its six fourth-down attempts against New England. This was a reality check moment for any Lions’ faithful starting to back Goff as the quarterback of the future."

Bob Breidenbach, USA TODAY NETWORK

CBS Sports

Week 5 rank: 30th

Previous rank: 29th

"The defense was bad again, but this time in the loss to the Patriots the offense was just as bad. They couldn't even score a point, which is not a good look."

ESPN

Week 5 rank: 30th

Previous rank: 25th

"Let's be real: From a talent perspective, this team doesn't have a lot of game-changing players on defense. And through four weeks, the Lions accomplished something that no other team in league history had done since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger when they led the NFL in points per game while ranking last in points per game allowed. That's a problem!"