NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

NFL power rankings: 32-team post-preseason breakdown ahead of Week 1

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 17: Head coach Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions looks on while playing the New York Giants during a pre season game at Ford Field on August 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

. . Previous: . Detroit Lions. 20. team. 50

Finally, a big faller in our NFL power rankings.

The Lions have looked sharp enough, offensively, this preseason to suggest they’ll be OK once Week 1 rolls around. Quarterback Matthew Stafford looks like he’s picking up where he left off last season, and the Lions have even managed to get something out of their ground game as of late.

That’s good.

The biggest problem, though, is Detroit hasn’t been able to put much of anything together, defensively. There are the preseason narratives, of course, but newly minted head coach Matt Patricia’s defense looked sluggish against the New York Giants earlier and completely overmatched by the Buccaneers in preseason Week 3.

Perhaps his players are still learning to jive in his system, but Patricia’s defensive woes won’t carry over well into a stacked NFC North squad boasting more than enough offensive talent to ensure the Lions stay below the .500 mark this season.