How do pollsters handle a team that dominated at home for three quarters before collapsing in the final stanza in epic fashion? How about unironically placing the Detroit Lions at the spot representing the most clutch player in the history of a different sport?
That’s exactly the maudlin sense of humor Lions fans need but likely won’t appreciate in the post-Week 1 power poll from Touchdown Wire.
The Lions sit at No. 23 in the updated power poll, with two Monday Night Football games still to play. That’s right: the Lions get the Michael Jordan number after losing to Chicago. Oof.
When Matt Prater hit a 44-yard field goal late in the third quarter, the Lions had a 23-6 lead over the Bears. Then, Detroit’s defense allowed three fourth-quarter passing touchdowns to Mitchell Trubisky, who looked about as accurate as a busted sprinkler in the first half. The real killer in Matthew Stafford’s attempt to come back from a 27-23 deficit was an easy dropped pass by rookie running back D’Andre Swift with 11 seconds left in the game. Heartbreak, thy name is Detroit.
Because of the two remaining games, the poll only extends out to 28 teams. Expect at least one of the Monday night losers to slide below the Lions in the poll when it’s refreshed on Tuesday.
