After another sound defeat, this time to the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions (3-5) fall in the national rankings continues — and rightfully so. The Lions entered last weeks game with some analysts believing the Lions deserved to be rank in the teens, but those days are gone, as every ranking this week is in the twenties.
Let’s take a closer look at what the national analysts thought of the Lions’ victory and what the experts are saying this week.
Touchdown Wire: 28 (Previous: 25)
“Just a few weeks ago it seemed like the Lions were a dark horse team to get into the playoff mix, especially after they acquired Everson Griffen from the Dallas Cowboys. But now, now they are headed in the absolute wrong direction. With games against Washington, Carolina, and Houston on the docket, there are some get right chances, but they need to turn this around in a hurry.” — Mark Schofield
USA Today: 21 (Previous 18)
“They haven’t won a division title since 1993, the longest drought in the NFC … and it now seems sure to extend until at least 2021.” — Nate Davis
NFL: 27 (Previous: 27)
“The Lions are simply not making progress under Matt Patricia. Detroit’s defense surrendered 275 yards on the ground — including 206 to Dalvin Cook on just 22 carries — and Kirk Cousins used play-action to torch the Lions’ secondary for three touchdown passes without a turnover in a 34-20 Vikings win. Cook iced the game in the fourth quarter with a 70-yard scoring run — and if it seemed far too easy for the star rusher, that’s probably because Detroit only had 10 players on the field on the play. The Lions don’t have an NFC North win since 2018 and have followed a two-game winning streak with a pair of disappointing losses. Stuck in neutral in the Motor City.” — Dan Hanzus
ESPN: 25 (Previous: 24)
“Recalibrated expectation: Getting to .500. This feels like a best-case scenario for Detroit after a 3-5 start to the season where the Lions have often struggled against the run. With Matt Patricia firmly on the hot seat and his boss, Bob Quinn, potentially there as well, the Lions need to show massive improvement from the first half of the year, where Detroit has continued to make mistakes the way they did in Patricia’s first two seasons. Patricia still hasn’t won more than two games in a row as a head coach, so a complete turnaround feels like a difficult ask.” — Michael Rothstein
CBS Sports: 22 (Previous 18)
“So much for the idea they could push for playoff spot. Losing like they did against the Vikings is not a good thing for Matt Patricia’s future.” — Pete Prisco
Sports Illustrated: 26 (Previous: 26)
“The Lions are careening toward the end of the Matt Patricia era, and it doesn’t seem like many people will be upset to see that day come.” — MMQB Staff
Sporting News: 20 (Previous: 19)
“The Lions blew their chance to take second place behind the Packers with another mess of a defensive game against the Vikings. The writing is on the wall for Matt Patricia now.” — Vinnie Iyer