There was a distinct shift in national perception of the Detroit Lions at the end of the 2021 season. After a rough start to their organizational rebuild, coach Dan Campbell had his team motivated and competitive over the final month and a half of the season, and writers took notice.
This offseason was widely considered a successful next step in the rebuild and an exciting showing on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” has created a positive buzz both locally and across the NFL. As the Lions stack accomplishments, their national perception continues to shift into a more pleasant light and that is reflected in the Week 1 power rankings.