The Lions had a strong finish with a 6-2 record in the second half of the season, and it helped them rise in the final media power rankings after sinking to last when they were 0-5. The Lions finished between 15 and 20 in the five sites surveyed by Detroitlions.com.
Here are the rankings, which include comments on the Lions and their low for the season, the other three NFC North teams and rankings that are hard to figure for other 7-9 teams the Lions played:
ESPN (unnamed)
Lions final rank: 20.
Going into Week 1: 12.
Season low: 31 at 0-5 after Week 5.
Final comment: "The Lions went 6-2 in the second half of the season, committing a league-low four turnovers. Only the Chiefs, Panthers and Cardinals had better records in the second half."
Rest of North: Vikings 9, Packers 10, Bears 25.
Go figure: Three other 7-9 teams the Lions beat rank higher – Raiders 16, Eagles 18, Saints 19. The 7-9 Rams beat the Lions and are 22.
NFL.com (Elliot Harrison)
Lions final rank: 15.
Going into Week 1: 12.
Season low: 32 at 0-5 after Week 5.
Final comment: "You have to hand it to Martha Firestone Ford. The 90-year-old frontwoman of the Detroit Lions was not happy with the direction of the organization, stood in front of a throng of reporters, relieved the team president and GM of their duties and changed the story arc of the 2015 Lions' season. What had been a crummy 1-7 team went 6-2 down the stretch, with one of those losses coming courtesy of an Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary. Throw in the fluke loss to the Seahawks and you have a team that could have been 9-7 despite losing its two best players from 2014: Ndamukong Suh to free agency and DeAndre Levy to injury. Keeping Jim Caldwell sounds correct."
Rest of North: Vikings 9, Packers 11, Bears 24.
Go figure: The 7-9 Rams beat the Lions but are ranked 21.
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)
Lions final rank: 16.
Going into Week 1 and season low: Not available.
Final comment: "They won six of their last eight to turn things around. They went back to their roots on offense."
Rest of North: Vikings 8, Packers 10, Bears 21.
Go figure: The 7-9 Rams beat the Lions and are No. 20.
MMQB Fine 15 (Peter King)
Lions final rank: 17.
After Week 1: Not in top 15, or 20.
Season low: Only top 20 are ranked.
Final comment: "Just think: If the right call had been made in the end zone in Seattle and Detroit wins that game, and if the longest Hail Mary in NFL had been knocked down by one of seven Lions defenders in the end zone against Green Bay, Detroit is 9-7 and we're not talking about Jim Caldwell's job."
Rest of North: Vikings 9, Packers 13, Bears not in top 20.
Go figure: The 7-9 Eagles (15) and Raiders (16) both lost to the Lions. The 7-9 Rams (19) beat the Lions.
Dallas Morning News (Rick Gosselin)
Lions final rank: 17.
Going into Week 1: 7.
Season low: 32 at 0-5 after Week 5.
Comment: The Lions were one of the NFL's hottest teams at the end of the season, winning six of the last eight games including the last three in a row. But a 1-7 start cost GM Martin Mayhew his job."
Rest of North: Vikings 7, Packers 10, Bears 23.
Go figure: The 7-9 Rams beat the Lions but are No. 20.
