The Detroit Lions have their season outlook trending in the direction they hoped for, and NFL writers across the country are taking notice.
Heading into their Week 5 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Lions are riding a three-game winning streak following a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
While it wasn’t their cleanest performance, it hasn’t stopped reporters from moving the Lions into their top three teams in the NFL. The defense and special teams earned significant credit for the home win, while the offense had its share of struggles against Cleveland’s stout defensive front.
That said, some journalists aren’t ready to place the Lions in the top three just yet, but still rank them among the league’s top five.
Not bad.
Here’s a look at where the Lions stand in this week’s roundup of NFL power rankings following their win over the Browns:
ESPN
Rank: 3
Last week: same
“Williams has proved to be Detroit’s top deep threat, but the connection with Lions quarterback Jared Goff wasn’t there against Cleveland. Williams was targeted by Goff eight times but caught only two passes. In Week 3 against Baltimore, he was targeted just three times for two catches. Although Williams doesn’t need a lot of receptions to be effective, Goff would like to see their connection improve. “I’ve got no reservations with him at all,” Goff said Sunday. “He’s as good as they get in our league. He can score from anywhere, and going to keep believing in him no matter what.” — Eric Woodyard
The Athletic
Rank: 3
Last week: 5
“The mulleted second-round offensive tackle has started all four games and has been one of the best rookie offensive linemen in the league. He also has a sweet John Wayne tattoo that takes up most of the upper part of his left arm. Third-round wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has two catches this season, both of which have been one-handed showstoppers. He also just signed a marketing deal with Ford, which earns him bonus points.” — Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
Yahoo Sports
Rank: 3
Last Week: 5
“Every year we see a Week 1 result that looks baffling by the end of the season. Was this season’s weird result the Lions’ blowout loss at Green Bay? The Lions look like the better team since then. The Nov. 27 rematch will be very interesting.” — Frank Schwab
The Score
Rank: 3
Last week: same
“Amon-Ra St. Brown.The Lions’ offense hasn’t missed a beat after the offseason coordinator change. Having an elite target like St. Brown definitely helps. He already has a league-leading six receiving touchdowns.” — Dan Wilkins
CBS Sports
Rank: 3
Last week: 6
“The offense wasn’t as good against the Browns, but the defense came up big. That’s the sign of a good team. They can win in a bunch of ways.” — Pete Prisco
Sports Illustrated
Rank: 3
Last week: same
“Since I know you spent Sunday’s Lions-Browns game waiting for Quidshon Judkins and Jahmyr Gibbs fantasy updates, here’s the real entertainment: Penei Sewell—the best offensive lineman in the NFL right now—against Myles Garrett. This is an epic throwdown well worth the four minutes it takes to watch.” — Connor Orr
USA Today
Rank: 5
Last week: 6
“Going back to his injury-aborted 2024 season, DE Aidan Hutchinson has 11½ sacks in his past nine games. He had 11½ over 17 games during the 2023 season.”
Bleacher Report
Rank: 4
Last week: 5
“In Week 1, the Green Bay Packers walloped the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. In Week 3, that same Packers team was stunned in Cleveland by the lowly Browns. Those Browns traveled to Ford Field Sunday, where there was more walloping.
The Lions appear to have put that Week 1 setback in the rearview mirror. Detroit did what was expected of them in Week 4 and defeated an overmatched Browns team.
This was a game where Jared Goff threw for just 168 yards, though. A contest in which the Lions averaged just 3.8 yards per carry on the ground. But on a day when the offense struggled a bit against a stout Cleveland defense, the Detroit defense was dominant, allowing less than 250 yards of offense and a single touchdown.
The Lions are right back where we expected them to be: among the NFC’s elite” — Gary Davenport
Sporting News
Rank: 5
Last week: 7
“The Lions got confidence on the road by ripping the Ravens and kept up that balanced, explosive momentum at home with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs. The defense and special teams coming alive to burn the Browns was good to see.” — Vinnie Iyer