On December 29, 1957, the Detroit Lions were indisputably the best team in the NFL. That day they won their last championship. That was also the end of Jim Brown’s rookie season, nine years before the first Super Bowl and just under 12 years before the man first stepped on the moon.
Since that day, it’s arguable that the Lions haven’t spent a single week as the best team in the NFL. That is changing. Picking any other team as the best in football about halfway through the season, when the Kansas City Chiefs haven’t lost yet, is a good way to feel foolish later. But the Lions’ dominance is undeniable.
The Lions have one loss, and it was a fluke loss as they outscored the Buccaneers 463-216 yards. Detroit has road wins against the Vikings and Packers, its two biggest division rivals and two of the best teams in the NFL. the lions DVOA Ranges after Sunday night’s game are telling: first overall, third on offense, fourth on defense, first on special teams. They pass the numbers test and also the vision test. They look dominant, capable of winning games in different ways. Sunday’s victory over the Packers was a statement for the rest of the NFL. It’s been a long time coming, but the Lions have a real shot at winning a Super Bowl. They are the best team in the NFL right now.
Here are the rest of the power rankings heading into Week 10 of the NFL season: