Notes: Lions ranked 25th in B/R’s first power rankings

The NFL regular season is less than a month away, people. That means it’s time to bring the hot takes and predictions to a fever pitch. It’s time to assume until we can’t assume no more.

Bleacher Report did their fair share of assuming when their NFL staff put together their first power rankings of the year. If you were thinking the Lions were going to get any respect this offseason, you were wrong. They ranked the Lions 25th in the league. Here’s their reasoning.

“Detroit was a respectable 10th in total defense last year, but the offense struggled mightily, ranking 24th in yardage per game and 25th in scoring.

In an NFC North that includes a Super Bowl contender in the Chicago Bears and the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers, the Lions have the look of a clear-cut No. 4 team.”

Ouch. Although it shouldn’t surprise anyone. The Lions were riddled with injuries in 2018 and that’s the lasting impression of the team right now. It’s on them to prove everyone wrong. In case you were wondering, they ranked the Vikings 17th, the Packers ninth and the Bears eighth.

• Don’t worry Lions fans. I’ve got some positivity for you. Brett Kollmann of Battle Red Blog thinks the Lions are not only headed for the playoffs, but are set for a run once they get there. He gives all his reasons why here.

• NESN put out an interesting piece about C.J. Anderson and his unique connection with the Bill Belichick. The friendly relationship started after Anderson played against the Patriots one or more times every year since 2013. Belichick approached Anderson after the 2015 AFC championship game and told him he was a “helluva player.”

NESN goes on to speculate why Anderson has never played for the Patriots and if he ever will. Seeing as he’s on just a one-year deal with the Lions, it’s quite possible that Foxboro could be Anderson’s next stop.

• This next one excited me a lot. I am a full-on sneaker guy. I’ve watched Nike release NFL team branded shoes for years now. Never have they done a Lions version until now. Nike will be selling Air Zoom Pegasus 36’s in Lions colors with their logo on the back at Dick’s Sporting Goods starting tomorrow. As former Dick’s employee, I can tell you that these things tend to go fast. So make sure you get to your local Dick’s soon to pick these beauties up.

• Here’s something not totally Lions related. Lions receiver Brandon Powell trained with wide receiver Josh Gordon at NUMA Speed in Florida this summer per Yahoo Sports. Powell had a lot to say about the suspended superstar.

Powell, who is pretty dang fast himself, might be able to recruit Gordon to the Lions if he ever gets another chance from the league. Although if Gordon succeeds in his latest reinstatement attempt, he is still under contract with the Patriots.

• Lions running back Kerryon Johnson was on the Rapsheet and Friends podcast this week. Johnson talks about a litany of topics like how he finally got a haircut, how the team is adapting better to Matt Patricia and the Lions offense. His interview comes in at the 42:04 mark.

• Remember last week when we made you guys read Deadspin’s Lions version of Why Your Team Sucks? Yeah, I know. It makes me a tiny bit upset too. Well today they released the Packers version of that. Have fun with this one, ladies and gentlemen.