2021 NFL Power Rankings: Detroit Lions
Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.
Here is where the Detroit Lions rank in terms of average, best and worst:
- Average ranking: 32 (32nd)
- Best ranking: 32 (Multiple)
- Worst ranking: 32 (Multiple)
Below you will find a Week 13 roundup for the Lions in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
ESPN -- Rank: 32
I honestly don't have much confidence at all in this team. Winning a single game is still a question mark. It has a lot to do with the offensive playcalling since coach Dan Campbell has taken over and just the overall talent on the roster. The Lions continue to play hard, even being 0-10-1, but I don't trust them to close out a game. Even quarterback Jared Goff acknowledged after the Thanksgiving Day loss to Chicago that this team has to "learn how not to lose," with self-inflicted mistakes and penalties in crucial moments. -- Eric Woodyard
NFL.com -- Rank: 32
The Lions find ways to lose. Six holding penalties by the offensive line. A coverage bust on one touchdown. The mind-numbing (and illegal) double timeout that helped doom them in the final minutes. Dan Campbell has his team fighting hard week after week, but it's not just the players who need to learn how to close out a game. The miscommunications and mental errors reflect poorly on the coaching staff, and when you combine them with a roster bereft of elite talent, well, that's how you get to 0-10-1. "These guys, they're fighting their tails off," Campbell said after Thursday's 16-14 loss to the Bears. "But until we get out of our own way, we won't quite get over the hump."
CBS Sports -- Rank: 32
They have known a lot of heartache this season, but that's what happens to bad teams. The offense is limited.
USA Today -- Rank: 32
You have to wonder if coach Dan Campbell, who's now calling offensive plays, has taken on too much in his zeal to crack the win column. Detroit's timeout management -- or lack thereof -- on Thanksgiving would suggest more delegation from Campbell is in order.
The Athletic -- Rank: 32
Problem area: Jared Goff. We hate that everything about this dreadful Lions season comes back to Goff, but all Detroit needed was for him to hold down the fort at QB for two seasons while the rebuild took shape. Even that has proven to be too much for Goff, who has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the league this year. Tim Boyle wasn't any better in his one start in Week 11, when Goff was out with an oblique injury, and David Blough went 0-5 starting in place of the injured Matthew Stafford in 2019. So Goff's the guy for now … and probably next year as well, due to financial considerations.
Previous updates:
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 12
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 11
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 10
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 9
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 8
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 7
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 6
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 5
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 4
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 3
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 2
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Week 1
- Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft
More Detroit Lions pages:
- Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup
- Detroit Lions Snap Counts
- Detroit Lions Franchise Leaders
- Detroit Lions Draft History
- Detroit Lions Schedule
- Detroit Lions Tickets
More of our content:
- 2022 NFL Mock Draft
- 2023 NFL Mock Draft
- 2022 NBA Mock Draft
- Fantasy Football Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start'em, Sit'em
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire
- NFL Power Rankings
Keep track of our site's updates: (1) follow us on Twitter, (2) like us on Facebook and/or (3) subscribe to our newsletter.