If you’re looking for the Detroit Lions and where they sit in the NFL pantheon, it’s best to start reading from the bottom. At 0-1 and giving up the most points of any team in Week 1, it makes sense to find the Lions near the bottom of every NFL power poll and rating metric.
However, the inspired comeback in the 41-33 loss to the San Francisco 49ers impressed enough that the Lions actually moved up in quite a few polls. Take USA TODAY, where analyst Nate Davis moved the Lions from the preseason No. 31 spot up to 29.
Detroit is above the Jaguars, Falcons and Giants in USA TODAY’s poll. The Lions are also 29th in Football Outsiders and their overall DVOA metric, which is more analytically based. Green Bay, Tennessee and Atlanta are behind the Lions in that one after all suffering lopsided losses in Week 1.
The Lions also ticked up in ESPN’s power poll. Detroit is up one spot to 30th after opening in 31st. The Jets and Jaguars are below them now. The Lions vaulted up to No. 29 from 31 at the Sporting News, too. At NFL.com, the Lions remain at No. 31.
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