NFL Week 5 power rankings: Lions drop into the 30s across the board

The Detroit Lions are 0-4 on the season after a highly disappointing effort against the Chicago Bears in Week 4. Just a week ago, the national media was singing the Lions’ praises for their effort in a loss to the Ravens, but this week, the tune has changed to an old familiar melody.

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

NFL.com, Rank: 31 (Previous: 27)

“The hits keep on coming for the Lions. Linebacker Romeo Okwara, Detroit’s most important player on defense, is done for the year after tearing his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 24-14 loss to the Bears. It’s the same devastating injury that ended the season of 2020 first-round pick Jeff Okudah back in Week 1. It’s all crushing news for a Lions team that had one of the thinnest rosters in football to begin the season. With attrition setting in, Detroit’s talent disparity is compounded. Now the lone remaining winless team in the NFC, it’s on head coach Dan Campbell to keep the team from losing hope.” — Dan Hanzus

ESPN: 31 (Previous: 30)

“Biggest surprise: Starting 0-4

“Why it’s a surprise: Nobody expected the Lions to be a playoff team, but starting 0-4 isn’t ideal — even for the Lions. Against Chicago, they failed to score on four different red zone drives, which tied for the most by any team in a game since 2000 — and Detroit’s most in a single game. Quarterback Jared Goff has now lost six consecutive regular-season starts, which is the longest active streak among QBs. It hasn’t been all his fault, with injuries and costly miscues haunting this team, but the Lions have to improve at limiting mistakes in scoring situations if they want to win a game.” — Eric Woodyard

USA Today: 30 (Previous: 26)

“The last time Detroit claimed a win with a quarterback not named Matthew Stafford? Try 2010, when you would’ve laughed at notion of an electric Ford Mustang.” — Nate Davis

Yahoo Sports: 30 (Previous: 28)

“At least the Lions are getting something out of their unheralded receivers. Quintez Cephus had 83 yards, Amon-Ra St. Brown had 70 yards and Kalif Raymond had two touchdowns. Sunday wasn’t a positive day, and it’ll be a rough season, but Detroit has to take its small wins when it can.” — Frank Schwab

MMQB: 30 (Previous: 28)

“In the first three weeks of the season, the Lions seemed to have the same jolt of energy as is in Dan Campbell’s morning coffee order of two venti iced coffees with double shots of espresso. But this week, the Lions looked more like they’d be expected to with one of the worst rosters in the league.” — MMQB Staff rotating rankings

CBS Sports: 31 (Previous: 30)

“They compete in games, but it’s just not enough. This first year will include a lot of losing for Dan Campbell.” — Pete Prisco

Sporting News: 31 (Previous: 29)

“The Lions keep fighting and working hard but the major talent deficiency on defense keeps coming back to bite them. Their offense has to be mistake-free and that doesn’t happen with Jared Goff.” — Vinnie Iyer

Washington Post: 31 (Previous: 29)

“This time, it didn’t take an uncalled delay-of-game penalty and a 66-yard field goal to beat the Lions. They couldn’t beat the Bears in Justin Fields’s second start. This is not going well.” — Mark Maske ($ubscription required)