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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Lions climb into top 5 in most NFL power rankings

As the NFL enters the final two weeks of the regular season, the Detroit Lions have firmly established themselves as one of the league’s best teams. The 11-4 record and NFC North title stand out in a league where every team has gone through rough patches at some point through the season.

At USA TODAY, where Detroit somehow fell despite winning in Week 15, the Lions rose up to No. 5 overall. They moved up from No. 8, passing the Chiefs (who lost), the Dolphins (who beat Dallas) and the Cowboys.

The Lions are also up into the fifth spot at The Athletic, rising from No. 7. In an interesting twist, they named Penei Sewell the Lions’ MVP so far. At CBS Sports, Detroit bubbled up one spot to No. 4. Our friends at Touchdown Wire bumped the Lions to No. 5 from seventh, noting,

The Lions have won the NFC North for the first time, and it’s their first division title since 1993. Dan Campbell is certainly a candidate for Coach of the Year, and the fact that he accomplished this in just three seasons is incredible.

NBC, via Pro Football Talk, holds the Lions at No. 6 overall. The Lions held steady at the No. 4 spot over at The Sporting News after clinching the NFC North.

My personal ranking after Week 16:

  1. Ravens
  2. 49ers
  3. Dolphins
  4. Lions
  5. Bills
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