NFL Week 7 power rankings: Winless Lions land in the cellar

The Detroit Lions are 0-6 and coming off their worst performance of the season. Their offensive output was deplorable and it resulted in coach Dan Campbell pointing blame at himself, his coaching staff, and all the players on offense in his post-game press conference.

“He’s going to need to put a little bit of weight on his shoulders here,” Campbell said of starting quarterback Jared Goff. “It’s time to step up, make some throws, and do some things. But he needs help. He needs help.”

Campbell wasn’t the only one critical of the Lions’ offensive performance, as the national media sounded off in this week's power rankings.

Let’s take a look at where the Lions sit in the national eye.

NFL.com, Rank: 31 (Previous: 29)

“Jared Goff isn’t the only reason why the Lions are the last winless team in the NFL, but the veteran quarterback obviously left his head coach wanting in the aftermath of a 34-11 loss to the Bengals. “I will say this ... I feel like he needs to step up more than he has,” Dan Campbell said. “I think he needs to help us. Just like everybody else.” Campbell’s long pause during that reply seemed to last forever — the coach was obviously trying to measure his words, knowing any criticism of a starting QB will be amplified. Goff felt like something of a sacrificial lamb when the Lions traded for him ... and that’s exactly how it’s playing out.” — Dan Hanzus

ESPN: 32 (Previous: 31)

“I hate to be a prisoner of the moment, but the latest game against the Cincinnati Bengals was the Lions’ worst performance of the season. My confidence has drastically decreased in this team throughout these six weeks, but a rash of injuries also is hurting this bunch. You can’t help but think of Detroit’s last 0-6 start — during the notorious 2008 season when the team finished 0-16 — and wonder when will this team get a victory. I love the passion displayed by Lions coach Dan Campbell, but the players have to match that energy on the field.” — Eric Woodyard

USA Today: 32 (Previous: 30)

“If they become totally disillusioned with QB Jared Goff – in case you were wondering – David Blough, Tim Boyle and Steven Montez are the in-house replacement options. So ... yeah.” — Nate Davis

Yahoo Sports: 32 (Previous: 30)

“The Lions haven’t played one offensive snap this season with the lead, via Mike Clay of ESPN. Detroit had perhaps its worst game of the season on Sunday and coach Dan Campbell said of Jared Goff, “I feel like he needs to step up more than he has,” It’s not getting better for the Lions.” — Frank Schwab

MMQB: 29 (Previous: 31)

“The sad part for the Lions is that, while the Dolphins, Jaguars and Texans have each other to beat up on in the AFC, Detroit’s schedule contains only NFL-caliber opponents, leaving them more likely to go winless than their inferior counterparts. (The other sad part is that, even if they’ve seen enough of Jared Goff, what are they gonna do, turn it over to David Blough?)” — MMQB Staff rotating rankings

CBS Sports: 32 (Previous: 31)

“After weeks of playing close games, they got dominated by the Bengals. They are just too undermanned. Can they go 0-17? It’s possible.” — Pete Prisco

Sporting News: 32 (Previous: 31)

“The Lions are losing their fight slowly as the defeats become more devastating. The Bengals taming them like that on their home field might have taken all the scratch out of the fellow cats.” — Vinnie Iyer

Washington Post: 32 (Previous: 31)

“The Lions stand alone as the league’s only winless team and they move into the cellar of these rankings with the Jaguars’ victory. Could they become the first 0-17 team in NFL history? It seems unlikely, given that the Lions already have had some near-misses. But Sunday’s 23-point defeat to the Bengals wasn’t one of them.” — Mark Maske ($ubscription required)