Lions surge up power polls despite remaining the only winless team

It is not reflected in the win-loss standings, where the Detroit Lions sit at the bottom as the NFL’s only remaining winless team after Week 7. But the series of narrow losses to good teams and an impressive showing against the high-flying Rams in Los Angeles was enough to convince those who do award style points and use the “eye test” that Dan Campbell’s Lions are not the worst team in the league.

The Lions jumped up multiple spots in several Week 8 NFL power polls after the 28-19 loss to the Rams, a game they led into the fourth quarter. It was the third competitive loss against likely playoff teams, including the Ravens and Packers.

The Lions shot up from 31st to 29th at Touchdown Wire on the basis of the close loss to a good team. Two of the three teams below them, the Houston Texans (32nd) and New York Jets (31st) got annihilated by a combined score of 85-18. Detroit also leapt over Jacksonville with the Jaguars on a bye week.

Detroit also moved up a spot at NFL.com, passing over the Jets into the No. 30 spot. At NBC, the Lions surged from 32nd to 29th, ahead of the same three teams that fill out the bottom at Touchdown Wire. It was a two-spot jump in USA TODAY’s poll, from 32 to 30.

They didn’t rise up in every poll. ESPN still ranks the winless Lions at No. 32 of 32.

List

Lions vs. Rams: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 7