Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions (8-8) are officially eliminated from the 2026 playoffs, following a Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. With the postseason out of reach, the Lions are unsurprisingly ranked below the 14 teams expected to compete beyond the regular season. While the Lions still land in the teens across all power rankers, being the best of the eliminated teams isn’t something this team will be happy with.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings.
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
What we learned this season: The rushing attack isn’t unstoppable.
The backfield duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery — aka “Sonic and Knuckles” — got off to a record-setting start together in 2023 and 2024. While nearly splitting carries, they became the first pair of teammates in NFL history to reach at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in their first 25 games together. However, as Gibbs took on a bigger snap count in 2025 (661 snaps compared with Montgomery’s 366), there was a stark contrast to their rushing attack in wins versus losses. In wins, they have averaged north of 170 rushing yards and 5.8 yards per rush. In losses, those averages drop to 69.4 and 3.1, respectively.
The Lions haven’t been running the ball like they did in previous seasons and Jared Goff has had trouble overcoming despite more gaudy net passing stats. The injuries defensively still cost them most.
Quarterback Jared Goff is in a recurring nightmare against Brian Flores. Goff’s disastrous game against the Dolphins in 2020 precipitated the end of his tenure with the Rams, and he put up a similarly awful performance on Christmas against the Flores-coordinated Vikings defense.
Games like these give us a clear view of the paradox Goff traps a franchise in. He’s too good (and his contract is too expensive) for Detroit to consider replacing him, but you can never be sure that he won’t melt down like he did in Week 17. Detroit’s offense needs an excellent play caller in 2026, or else we’ll see more of Goff’s flaws going forward.
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff:
Head coach check-in: Going to have to hear about it
Dan Campbell’s job isn’t in jeopardy despite his team’s elimination from playoff contention. Still, after watching the offense falter in big moments without Ben Johnson and losing three straight down the stretch, Campbell will be asked if he can get Detroit over the hump about 1,000 times this offseason. Averaging 3.6 yards per play and losing to Max Brosmer’s Vikings has consequences.
Can the Lions bounce back in 2026? Their advanced metrics don’t reflect the actual...
