SB Nation Detroit - Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: Lions Generally Holdinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2011-11-30T15:31:50-05:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23606012011-11-30T15:31:50-05:002011-11-30T15:31:50-05:00Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: CBS Sports Drops Lions Four Spots
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<p>After such a strong start to the season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> haven't been doing well in recent weeks. They did pick up a good win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.catscratchreader.com/">Carolina Panthers</a>, but dropped their last outing to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. It is a tough schedule though, with losses to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a>, who remain playoff contenders. Still, when a team loses, they're moved down the rankings, and the Lions find themselves falling down slightly this past week.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16280542" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a> drops them four spots in the Week 13 NFL power rankings:</p>
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<p><b>13. </b>Was that fast start a mirage? It sure looks that way. And things don't get easier when they go to New Orleans this week. </p>
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<p>That's four spots down from their place last week, at No. 9, and it's the harshest analysis in power rankings yet. The loss came to the undefeated Packers, do they deserve to be dropped that much outside of the top ten? Pete Prisco seems to think so. If they beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> on Sunday, they could rocket back up into the top ten, though.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/11/30/2601024/week-13-nfl-power-rankings-cbs-sports-detroit-lionsJames Brady2011-11-29T15:52:56-05:002011-11-29T15:52:56-05:00Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: Fox Sports Drops Lions To No. 11
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> are coming off a tough loss against their divisional rivals, but they were expected to, and aren't really battling for the lead in the NFC North anyway. No, the Lions have their eyes firmly set on a wildcard birth, and more specifically, are noting that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Chicago Bears</a> are now without <span>Jay Cutler</span> and Detroit's chances of making the playoffs have significantly increased. They remain one of the top teams, but are falling slightly in most power rankings.</p>
<p>Fox Sports drops them out of the top ten in their Week 13 NFL power rankings:</p>
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<p><b>11. </b>Detroit's loss didn't impact its wild-card chances as much as it could have with the Bears and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> also losing. With New Orleans, Oakland and Green Bay still left on Detroit's schedule, the Lions are facing the real chance of missing the playoffs. They have found a fix in <span>Kevin Smith</span> to provide a burst to the running game (if he can stay healthy), but on the flip side, Detroit hasn't been able to stop the run on defense, giving up more than 127 yards per game. </p>
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<p>That's down two spots from last week, but there are other teams going up who got in the way. Detroit does face a tough upcoming schedule, but remaining near the top ten is a good sign for the team moving forward.</p>
<p> M3N5NKYM3JCZ</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/11/29/2596904/week-13-nfl-power-rankings-fox-sports-drops-lions-to-no-11James Brady2011-11-29T13:34:31-05:002011-11-29T13:34:31-05:00Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: ESPN Drops Lions One Spot
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> are coming off a loss, but that loss is to the first-place <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>, and though it hurts because they're NFC North rivals, it can't discourage fans too much given the circumstances. Effectively, the Lions just lost a playoff game, and while that hurts, they now have the opportunity to evaluate what happened and take another shot, without having to wait for a long offseason and things of that nature. They're not battling for the NFC North division, they're just looking for the wildcard right now. The weekly power rankings are mostly reflecting that, yes, it was against the Packers, and that the team shouldn't drop too much.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings">ESPN</a> drops them just one point in their Week 13 NFL power rankings:</p>
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<p><b>11. </b>Thanksgiving turned out to be a disaster for the Lions, and playing the Saints next won't make life easier. (Clayton) </p>
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<p>It's just one spot, but it's significant since it drops them out of the top ten. Still, the team has to focus with a matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> coming this week.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/11/29/2596565/week-13-nfl-power-rankings-espn-detroit-lionsJames Brady2011-11-29T10:56:09-05:002011-11-29T10:56:09-05:00Week 13 NFL Power Rankings: Lions Fall To No. 10 Spot
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<p>For more on the Lions, visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.prideofdetroit.com">Pride Of Detroit</a></p> <p>The news this week has not been good for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/detroit-lions">Detroit Lions</a>. With <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/108580/jahvid-best">Jahvid Best</a> officially going on injured reserve and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/players/108653/ndamukong-suh">Ndamukong Suh</a> getting suspended for two games, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Lions</a> have lost two of their best players as they push for the playoffs. Right now, they are currently tied with Chicago and Atlanta for the two NFC wild card spots, but both teams have tiebreaker advantages over them. The Lions are also close in this week's SB Nation NFL Power Rankings, as <a href="../../nfl/2011/11/29/2596018/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-packers-saints-49ers">Joel Thorman has them 10th</a>:</p>
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<p>10. <a href="https://www.prideofdetroit.com/">Detroit Lions</a> (7-4, LW: 9): The game of the year on Thanksgiving didn't live up to the hype. <a href="../../nfl/players/108653/ndamukong-suh">Ndamukong Suh</a> is stealing headlines after that game thanks to the Suh Stomp. Losing him for a game (or more) will hurt.</p>
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<p>Detroit has a critical game on Sunday night at the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints">New Orleans Saints</a>, who crushed the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../nfl/teams/new-york-giants">Giants</a> on Monday Night Football last night. Fortunately, Chicago's quarterback issues should keep the Lions in the hunt.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/detroit-lions/2011/11/29/2596120/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-2011Travis Miller