Offense Leads the Way
Detroit's identity starts with a physical run and play-action offense built around Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff working from a clean pocket.
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Detroit Lions 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
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86.8PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Lions Here
The offense runs through Jahmyr Gibbs and the offensive line, which lets Jared Goff work from play action instead of living in obvious passing downs. Dan Campbell has a team that can dictate pace when the protection holds. The defense still trails the offense, and the line transition removes some of the depth that made Detroit so hard to wear down.
NFL Rank#4Current PFM ranking
NFC Rank#3Among NFC teams
QB Stability#7Jared Goff · Franchise Locked In
Season OutlookSuper Bowl Contender
Head coachDan Campbell
Offensive coordinatorDrew Petzing
Defensive coordinatorKelvin Sheppard
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsDetroit Lions Team DNA
Roster Depth
The defense needs to keep improving. More consistent stops are needed if the Lions want to make a deep run.
Jared Goff Fits the Way Detroit Wants to Win
Goff’s timing from a clean pocket works with Detroit’s physical run game and supports the 7th-ranked quarterback grade. Interior pressure changes the equation because it takes away the play-action rhythm that makes this offense hard to defend.
Detroit's Defense Leaves Too Little Margin
The defense ranks 16th. An aggressive front still has to create more dependable stops. Without more stops, the offense will keep being asked to answer possession after possession.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 Detroit Lions Strength of Schedule
Detroit has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 28, with opponents averaging 78.1. New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears still give the schedule a real test, but 2 games against current top-10 teams keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.
Difficulty Rank#28No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.78.1Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.76.5Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups2Games vs. current top 10
Away games left8
Top-10 road opponents1
vs. New Orleans Saints70.5 PFM · #32
Sep 13 · 1:00 pmHomeBottom 10
at Buffalo Bills85.6 PFM · #8
Sep 17 · 8:15 pmAwayTop 10
vs. New York Jets73.5 PFM · #25
Sep 27 · 1:00 pmHomeBottom 10
Toughest remaining opponent: 
New England Patriots at 86.0 PFM.
PFM Reporter
Alim McNeill leaves practice with neck issue
Alim McNeill left Detroit's July 31st practice early with a neck issue, but he walked off under his own power and the team has not announced a diagnosis or timetable.
McNeill is too important to the interior defense to ignore and the Lions defense is already dealing with the loss of Terrion Arnold.
Analysis updatedJuly 31, 2026
Sources: NFL.com
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like Chicago Bears
Chicago BearsMatch distance: 2.39 rating points
Shared profile: Defense and QB Stability.
Detroit gets coverage time for the rush through coverage and the defensive front, while Chicago gets coverage time for the rush from coverage and the defensive front. two important parts of the roster connect the teams because each side has a football answer beyond the first option. Chicago separates in Explosiveness through more threats around the offensive line.
Where they separate: Explosiveness. Bears hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
NFC North
Detroit enters as the team to catch in the NFC North. Detroit can stay in the race by protecting Goff, creating explosive runs for Gibbs and forcing the opponent into a pass-heavy comeback. Green Bay is the most complete NFC North obstacle, with Chicago also closing the gap.
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More About the Team
Badge History2 active badges · Last verified change Jul 17, 2026
- Jul 17, 2026 · Badge tracking startedEarned Coaching Edge, Loaded Roster
Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl Era
Detroit is still chasing its first Super Bowl appearance.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 0
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 0
- Super Bowl Record
- No appearances
- Last Appearance
- Still chasing First appearance
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