The national view of the Lions is a little all over the map heading into Week 1, but the message is pretty clear: Detroit has people believing in the ceiling, even if plenty of evaluators still want to see the proof.
That’s reflected in the rankings themselves. ESPN put the Lions at No. 8, up from No.
- The Athletic also moved them up, slotting Detroit at No. 9 after previously placing them 17th.
Yahoo Sports followed the same jump to No. 9 from No. 17.
USA Today came in at No. 11, improving the Lions from No. 18.
NFL.com kept Detroit in the middle of the pack at No. 15, down one spot from No. 14, while Sporting News held the Lions at No. 15 after ranking them 16th before. The Ringer left them unchanged at No.
A lot of the optimism centers on the idea that the Lions can rebound quickly after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022. ESPN’s Eric Woodyard framed the season plainly: “This season is a success if ... the Lions return to the postseason.” He also pointed to the organization’s heavy investment, noting that Detroit has committed over $1 billion in contracts and extensions over the past two years.
ESPN’s Connor Orr saw a path to a bigger jump in the win column, tying together the schedule, the coaching change and a healthier roster. “Easy schedule + upgraded play-caller + a little bit more health and stability across the front seven = a nine win team from 2025 winning double-digit games in 2026.
Certainly the secondary is a concern, but the way Detroit can deploy itself schematically, I’m less worried about the team getting gouged in the passing game. At the very least, the Lions can score enough to keep pace.”
The Athletic was similarly bullish, projecting a 10.3 win total. Chad Graff and Josh Kendall noted that Detroit should benefit from one of the league’s easiest schedules and highlighted new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and added depth on the defensive line. But they also flagged the secondary, pointing to injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, both of whom begin the season on the PUP list.
Yahoo Sports sounded a more skeptical note, especially around the backfield. Frank Schwab wrote that the Lions traded David Montgomery and might regret it.
He also noted that Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve, with general manager Brad Holmes saying he is “hopeful” Pacheco returns this season. For now, the backup options are Jacob Saylors and Sione Vaki, who have a combined nine carries for 29 yards in the NFL.
Schwab also said Detroit badly needs Jahmyr Gibbs to stay healthy and that the team is thin in the secondary to open the year.
USA Today’s Nate Davis focused on the middle of the roster, arguing that if you believe good teams are strong up the middle, Detroit has some issues. He pointed to C Cade Mays and starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, all of whom are at least a month away from playing. He also said the Lions can lean on Jahmyr Gibbs, but that there’s “zero safety net” behind him despite his limited workload over the first three seasons of his career.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook zeroed in on the offense, saying the sidelining of center Cade Mays (wrist) left him uneasy as Detroit begins the season. He also mentioned tight end Sam LaPorta, who followed back surgery with a hip injury in August. Even with those concerns, Shook still gave the Lions the edge over the Saints in Week 1.
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer described this as the first real adversity of the Dan Campbell revival era after last season’s 9-8 finish and playoff miss. He said the defense remains a work in progress behind Aidan Hutchinson, while the offense is trending toward being more pass-reliant with Jared Goff.
The Ringer kept Detroit at No. 16, but Diante Lee’s breakdown was packed with injury concerns. He called the Lions “the most banged-up team in football entering Week 1,” citing Branch and Kerby Joseph still not returning to practice after season-ending injuries last year.
Lee also referenced cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was waived earlier in the offseason after his arrest on eight felony charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping, in Florida. He added that backup running back Isiah Pacheco is on IR with a back injury and that Detroit doesn’t have enough quality depth behind Jahmyr Gibbs to feel comfortable.
Even with all that, Lee still stopped short of dropping the Lions any lower than 16th. His reasoning was simple: “their championship potential is still evident.”
He added that they “could have the best offense in football,” and singled out Jameson Williams as the Detroit offensive player he’s most excited to watch. If Williams starts burning teams deep, Lee said, the extra attention he draws should open things up for everyone else.
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