clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Week 17 power rankings: Lions fall below Packers, most NFC contenders

The Lions are falling out of the top 10, and if they aren’t careful they’ll fall out of playoff contention, too.

By Jeremy Reisman

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

NFL: Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

With the Detroit Lions’ butt-kicking at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, you’d expect them to plummet in this week’s power rankings. However, with most of the league already out of a playoff spot, the Lions didn’t drop too far. In fact, in two lists, the Lions climbed a spot despite the drubbing. Take a look.

One common theme among all of these power rankings, however, is the Green Bay Packers being listed above the Lions in each and every list. This obviously makes a lot of sense right now. The Packers are technically leading the division right now, with both teams standing at 9-6 and Green Bay currently having the head-to-head tiebreaker. Green Bay is also riding a five-game winning streak, while the Lions are on a two-game skid.

Here’s a look at where the Packers rank after 16 weeks of football.

  • SB Nation - 9th
  • NFL.com - 6th
  • Yahoo! Sports - 6th
  • CBS Sports - 8th
  • USA Today - 6th
  • ESPN - 8th

Detroit can put all of the Packers love to rest with a win on Sunday night. A Lions win combined with a Washington win over New York would knock the Packers out of the playoffs completely. But first things first: win.

More From Pride Of Detroit