The weekly NFL power rankings have been kind to the Detroit Lions of late. Despite dropping two straight games, they find themselves just outside of the top ten in most of them, and that's likely because the losses came to two of the three consensus best teams in the NFC - the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. In fact, the Lions have played and lost to the other consensus top three team in the San Francisco 49ers, so it's no wonder that they're on a losing streak. That being said, they're getting a lot of respect from the media, and that shows by their placement in the rankings.
CBS Sports keeps them in their slot at No. 13 in their Week 14 NFL power rankings:
13. They have to control their emotions. That's on Jim Schwartz. He has to control his players.
Another apt point - the Lions are one of the most penalized teams in the league and these consistent 15-yard unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties aren't helping one bit.