A weekly examination of the Lions' ESPN.com Power Ranking:

Preseason: 24 | Last Week: 17 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002

The fall to preseason expectations for the Detroit Lions is almost complete. After reaching as high as No. 9 in Week 11, the Lions have cascaded down the rankings as fast as their record plummeted from one potentially representing a divisional champion to a team likely hunting for a new coach a week from now.

Now for the most amazing part -- even at No. 20, this is the second-highest the Lions have been in the power rankings this late in the season since 2002. The only time Detroit was higher was during its playoff season in 2011, when the Lions were seventh. That, right there, shows the overall struggles of this franchise since the turn of the century.

Detroit has actually dropped eight spots in the past two weeks, going from 12th in Week 15 to 20th entering the final week of the season.