The NFL season is quite demanding. a never-ending competition amongst rivals to discover who can outwork their rivals and yet deliver excellent work. Teams with exceptional potential and a strong will to excel will ultimately surpass their rivals and reap the rewards of a job well done.
However, the grind isn’t limited to the football field; it also occurs in all football-related settings, such as the media rooms where the game is covered. Looking at the stuff that various media outlets create around this time of year makes this very clear. Some give in to the strain of a long season and begin cutting corners, while others persevere and produce a better product than when they began the season.
This week’s power rankings reflect that trend, with some media continuing to put out great effort to provide a high-caliber product while others are prewriting pieces and failing to update following games. Some people are rushing to release their product as soon as possible, taking short cuts in the process, and prioritizing the quantity of articles written over their quality.
For instance: If you release your power rankings on Sunday night, before every game is played, and you haven’t seen them at all, how accurate are they? If you were able to watch every game, or at least the highlights, how did you decide to drop Detroit in your rankings after seeing the Lions destroy the Broncos?
Although I admit that I didn’t watch every game and that I’m not publishing a list of power rankings with my name on it, I did watch the games of the teams that were usually ranked ahead of the Lions this week, and let’s just say that I didn’t agree with some of them.
But I’m getting off topic. With three games left in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions lead the Vikings by three games, are sitting as the third seed in the NFC, and have a 99% probability of making the playoffs as of the end of Week 15.
Fans of the Lions had a long weekend of football in addition to watching the team regain their confidence. The Packers, Vikings, Bears, Cowboys, and Eagles all suffered losses—LOL, Matt Patricia—which boded well for the Lions in the postseason.
Having said that, let’s examine this week’s national power rankings in more detail to discover the reasons behind the Lions’ placements on each ranker’s list.
MMQB: 4 (week ending: 6)
From Connor Orr:
“Third-and-6, with roughly 1:50 remaining in a 0-0 game’s second quarter. After Baron Browning is absolutely buried by Sam LaPorta as he comes off the line, he regains his balance, looks up, and catches a football that is tossed at his chest. Dan Campbell has been so amazing this year; I don’t know what to think of LaPorta if he didn’t locate his spitting image in the draft. A tight end who is breaking mold and only getting better.
Sports News: 4 (Recent: 7)
From Vinnie Iyer
The outstanding running game of the Lions broke through a vulnerable Broncos defense on Saturday, helping the team get back on track at home. Jared Goff was also able to play effectively at home thanks to that returning improvement, which also motivated the defense. They may now rest easier knowing that they are a dangerous playoff team and the incoming division winners.
The Athlete: 7 (Recently: 8)
From Josh Kendall:
“A revelation: Sam LaPorta
“The rookie tight end’s talent is hardly shocking, but this good? LaPorta now has nine touchdown receptions this season, which is the fourth-most in the league, after recording three on Saturday night. LaPorta, the 34th overall choice in the 2023 selection, has already racked up 758 receiving yards, which ranks sixth among rookie tight ends in league history. If he continues to play at his average, he will finish third, just behind Mike Ditka and Kyle Pitts.
The Ringer: 8 (Last week: 9)
From The Ringer collective staff, excerpt from Danny Kelly:
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, two rookie playmakers, gave the Lions a huge offensive lift on Saturday, as they defeated the Broncos 42–17. In April of last year, Gibbs demonstrated why the organization was willing to select him with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft. He ran for 100 yards on 11 rushes (a 9.1-yard average) and added two receptions for 8 yards and a touchdown via the air. Gibbs surprisingly surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards for the season. His rapid acceleration allows him to disrupt pursuit angles and open rush lanes that other players aren’t able to.
In contrast, LaPorta had a breakout game in the blowout, catching five passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns. This performance puts the second-round pick in exceptional company among rookie tight ends in league history. LaPorta is now one of just three tight ends in history (along with Mike Ditka in 1961 and John Mackey in 1963) to record 700 yards and seven or more touchdowns in their first season, with 71 receptions for 758 yards and nine scores this year. This club is very close to securing a postseason spot because to the performances of its rookie class, which has also included linebacker Jack Campbell and safety Brian Branch. That would happen with a victory over the Vikings next.
