By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions are in a strong position early in the NFL season, sitting at 3–1 heading into Week 5. That’s already good news for fans in the Motor City, but what makes things even sweeter is their next matchup. The Lions will be facing the Cincinnati Bengals, and with quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined, Detroit has a clear advantage going into the game. Nobody celebrates seeing a player injured, but it’s undeniable that Burrow’s absence could tilt the odds further in the Lions’ favor.
Looking closer at the NFC North race, Detroit already owns a win over the Chicago Bears but took a loss against the Green Bay Packers. The victory over Chicago was particularly meaningful, since the Bears are now led by Ben Johnson — Detroit’s former offensive coordinator who played a huge role in the team’s offensive success in recent years. Getting that win against Johnson and his new squad felt extra satisfying for Lions fans.
Now, Johnson has found himself on the receiving end of a little criticism. If you’re one of the fans who hopes he doesn’t replicate his Detroit success in Chicago, this one may feel good to you.
As usual, NFL power rankings dropped this week ahead of Week 5, and the Lions landed at No. 3 in multiple outlets. But Fox Sports had an especially pointed observation about the team and Johnson. Writer Ralph Vacchiano brought up what he called “the elephant in the room.”
“The Lions grinded out 34 points against a tough Browns defense and have now scored 124 points over their last three games,” Vacchiano wrote. “It doesn’t seem like Detroit is missing former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson much.”
That’s a sharp note, considering the hype Johnson carried into his first season with the Bears. So far, the Lions’ offense has continued humming right along without him.
Vacchiano also slotted the Philadelphia Eagles into the top spot in his rankings. “In the second half of Week 3 and the first half of Week 4, the Eagles sure looked like the defending Super Bowl champions,” he explained. But after quarterback Jalen Hurts went 0-for-8 against the Buccaneers in the second half — with the offense producing minus-1 yards — Vacchiano admitted he’s questioning how long Philadelphia can hang on at No. 1.
The Lions’ buzz hasn’t stopped there. In another ranking for Week 5, NFL writer Eric Edholm also placed Detroit at No. 3. “Detroit was not prolific offensively against Cleveland, but no one has been this season,” he said. “Still, this is the second time in four games where the Lions have been kept somewhat grounded on offense, even if they’ve taken good care of the football. Committing five offensive penalties was out of character, and Detroit’s still trying to hone the connection between Jared Goff and Jameson Williams.”
So, will the Lions cruise past the Bengals this Sunday? With a bye week still a few games away in Week 8, fans are hoping Detroit keeps stacking wins.