The time for the Detroit Lions to kick off one of the most important seasons in the history of the franchise is rapidly approaching. The Lions will begin their 2024 campaign with a Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
As if the first game of the season wasn't exciting enough, Matthew Stafford will be making his second return to Ford Field and the Rams are hoping to avenge their playoff loss to Detroit last season.
It is no secret that the Lions have Super Bowl expectations. Detroit had one of the best teams in the NFL in 2023 and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game before blowing a halftime lead and losing to the San Francisco 49ers.
But the Lions are bringing back much of the same roster, plus some significant upgrades on the defensive side of the ball, which was their biggest weakness. Knowing that, the Super Bowl aspirations are legit.
If you've been paying attention to power rankings this offseason, you can probably already guess where experts have the Lions ahead of Week 1. Here's a look at the final offseason power rankings of experts before the season starts.
Detroit Lions NFL power rankings Week 1
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports: 2 (no change)
Schwab: "The Lions had some injury scares during training camp and preseason but it doesn't seem like any major contributors will miss Week 1. We'll have to see if rookie first-round pick Terrion Arnold gets a starting nod for Week 1 after missing time in August with a pectoral injury."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 7 (-3)
Prisco: "They should once again push for a deep playoff run and more. Dan Campbell needs to stop being so reckless with his fourth-down decisions since his team is much better now."
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 2 (+2)
Davis: "Remember that WR Jameson Williams nearly put them over the top against the Niners in the 2023 NFC championship game. If he can develop into a consistent threat over a full season, there may be no stopping this team."
Bleacher Report: "The Lions enter the season in a position the franchise arguably hasn't inhabited in 50 years or more. The Lions aren't merely expected to compete or win the NFC North. They are expected to win the NFC altogether. Win the Super Bowl.
"Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes deserve a ton of credit for assembling a talented roster on both sides of the ball. Holmes told reporters it's because they had a shared vision for the franchise and never wavered from it."
Kendall: "These guys were in a good mood when they were 1-6 in 2022. Now, they have won 21 of their last 29 games, and wide receiver Jameson Williams looks like he’s taken a step forward in practice. Add Williams’ dynamic breakaway speed to an offense that finished third in the league in yards per play last year (5.9), and Campbell might not even need that 12th daily cup of coffee."
Wirth: "This improved defense wouldn't have blown a 24-7 lead in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions got better this offseason and once again will be a force."
Pamela Maldonado, Sharp Football Analysis: 3 (no change)
Maldonado: "Jahmyr Gibbs, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue, is trending in the right direction and is expected to resume practicing soon. His versatility and explosiveness are anticipated to add a dynamic element to the Lions’ offense."
Lee: "For the first time in my life, the Detroit Lions have real expectations to be one of the best teams in the NFL. Coming off of an NFC title game appearance last season, this team brought back both coordinators, nearly all of its offensive starters, and added experienced veterans Marcus Davenport, Carlton Davis, and Amik Robertson on defense, as well as first-round pick cornerback Terrion Arnold. In theory, all the defensive pieces are in place to play the style of football that Detroit wants: crushing the pocket up front and playing man coverage on the back end. Even if the defense’s aggression means they give up explosive passes at times, this defense should be much better against the pass on a down-to-down basis than it was a season ago.
"Playing in the NFC North will be a gauntlet this year, but this team has only three true outdoor games (huge for indoor football enthusiast Jared Goff) and one of those non-dome games is against San Francisco—where weather isn’t likely to be a factor in the game. Don’t be surprised if Detroit is atop these power rankings for stretches of this season."