Who needs Ben Johnson?
That’s the general consensus from NFL writers across the country following the Detroit Lions’ dominant win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Ford Field.
After a lackluster showing in their Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers — a game where the offense failed to capitalize on opportunities and didn’t score its first touchdown until the final seconds — concern grew that Detroit’s offensive mojo might have left with Johnson, who bolted to become Chicago’s head coach.
That wasn’t the case in Week 2.
The Lions dropped a 50-piece and a biscuit on the Bears, and national writers took notice. Some vaulted Detroit back into the top five or 10 of their NFL power rankings. One writer even dropped the Lions a spot while still praising their performance.
Here’s a look at where the Lions stand after securing their first victory of the season:
ESPN
Rank: 5
Last Week: 8
“It goes without saying that the Lions struggled at Green Bay, but Week 2 reminded the world that Goff and the Lions can still be dominant. Goff became the first quarterback in Lions history with an 80% completion percentage and five passing touchdowns in a game, while also passing Bobby Layne (118) for the second-most passing touchdowns in franchise history. If he receives solid protection from an offensive line that’s still adjusting to new players, there shouldn’t be a drop-off for Goff in his 10th NFL season.”– Eric Woodyard
The Athletic
Rank: 6
Last Week: 14
“We were all a little worried when the Lions scored 13 points in Week 1 without Johnson coordinating the offense, but Detroit made a statement by putting 511 yards and 52 points on Johnson’s new team, the Chicago Bears. Jared Goff had five passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 156, his second highest as a Lion. It’s the fifth time a Goff-quarterbacked team has topped 50 points.” — Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
The Ringer
Rank: 6
Last Week: 7
“I imagine the mood at Detroit’s press conferences will be a lot less tense this week after a 31-point bludgeoning of Chicago—a game in which the Lions both beat a division rival and stuck it to their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in the process. Quarterback Jared Goff was back to his machine-like efficiency, the run game had its juice again, and on defense, the pass rush affected Caleb Williams in a way it couldn’t against Jordan Love a week ago.
It’s still too early to sort out whether Detroit belongs among the NFL’s elite, but one thing is for sure: It’s still one of the few teams in the league that can run opponents off the field on any given Sunday.” — Diante Lee
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 5
Last Week: 12
“The Lions came back from a down Week 1 to log the most efficient afternoon in team history. A stunning 8.8 yards per play have drastically cleared the skepticism around Ben Johnson’s replacement, John Morton. While we live in a week-to-week world held prisoner by the moment, understanding that Morton can completely undress a team run by Johnson himself—and that Lions players are rallying relentlessly around Morton—means a great deal.” Connor Orr
Bleacher Report
Rank: 7
Last Week: 10
“In Week 2, the Detroit Lions looked like the club that went 15-2 last season. Head coach Dan Campbell put necessary pressure on his team to win the game, and the players dominated the Chicago Bears on both sides of the ball.
Even with a new play-caller, the Lions have the personnel to score in flurries at home. Offensive coordinator John Morton made a strong early impression, leading Detroit to a lopsided victory over the rival Bears.” — Maurice Moton
CBS Sports
Rank: 12
Last Week: 11
“The Lions offense we saw against the Bears is the one we saw last year. Jared Goff was outstanding. Ben who?” — Pete Prisco
Yahoo Sports
Rank: 5
Last Week: 5
“Maybe, just maybe, the Lions’ struggles were due more to the Packers than their own issues. Detroit looked great Sunday. They’ll be fine. Week 1’s result just said way more about the Packers, and that is still something the Lions have to contend with.”