NFL power rankings: Lions last in NFC North?

So Detroit Lions fans have their choice of outlooks today.

They can go all-in like their No. 1 draft choice, Laken Tomlinson, and say they'll be competing for the Super Bowl.

Or you can say they're the worst team in the NFC North, like Pete Prisco does in his pre-training camp NFL power rankings at cbssports.com.

That's right, Prisco has the Lions ranked below even the dysfunctional Chicago Bears. Nobody is doing that.

The Bears were last in the division with a 5-11 record last season, have a new coach in John Fox, but still have the old quarterback in Jay Cutler.

Overall, Prisco has the Lions ranked in the middle of the NFL pack — along with most of the NFC North — at No. 17. That's a demotion of six spots from last year and the only team in the division without an up arrow.

Their division-rival Green Bay Packers are No. 1, the Minnesota Vikings are No. 13, and the Bears are No. 15.

The Lions, Prisco writes, "appear to be going to more of a power running style on offense, which they need. But they have to be careful to not get away from their strength of throwing it. The defense has suffered some big hits."

Prisco gave the Bears, meanwhile, an amazing bump of 11 spots, because he thinks "Cutler will have a season that few expect — a good one — and I think Vic Fangio's defense will be much improved. They will push for a playoff spot."

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Contact Steve Schrader: sschrader@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @schradz.