ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made waves with his latest opinion, claiming that the Detroit Lions currently stand as the best team in the NFL through five weeks of the 2025 season.
The Lions improved their record to 4-1 after earning a hard-fought road victory against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. Following a disappointing Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Detroit has bounced back impressively with four consecutive wins, showcasing both offensive firepower and team discipline.
During a recent episode of First Take, Smith didn’t hold back his praise for the team.
“Since Week 1, you can see how dangerous this offense is. They can drop 40 points almost effortlessly,” Smith said on First Take. “With that backfield of Gibbs, Montgomery, and Williams, and those receivers—man, they’re loaded. Dan Campbell has built a culture of toughness and belief in Detroit. Right now, I truly think they’re the number one team in football.”
Detroit’s Surge Continues
Smith’s comments reflect what many fans and analysts have noticed over the past month — Detroit’s offense has been nearly unstoppable. The balanced attack features explosive running from Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, elite route-running from Amon-Ra St. Brown, and strong leadership under quarterback Jared Goff. Behind one of the league’s best offensive lines, the Lions have become one of the toughest teams to defend.
Despite last season’s disappointing playoff exit against the Washington Commanders, the Lions appear to have grown from that experience. Their recent performances show a team that’s not only confident but also determined to finish the job this time around.
As the season moves forward, the Lions face a major test with upcoming matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs on the road and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home. If they can sustain this level of play, Detroit might finally be ready to prove Stephen A. Smith right — that they are, indeed, the best team in football right now.
