Detroit Lions Week 12 PFF Grades: Poor Play From Both Sides

If you are not aware by now, Pro Football Focus is a website dedicated to grading NFL players’ individual performances based on in depth review of every snap of every game. If you’re interested, here is a look at their grading system.

Let’s take a quick look at what PFF had to say about the Detroit Lions and their blowout loss to the New England Patriots, shall we?

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With the First Pick

Offense

Best Grades:

LaAdrian Waddle: +2.1
Rob Sims: +0.3
Golden Tate: +0.2
Riley Reiff: +0.1

Worst Grades:

Cornelius Lucas: -3.5
Dominic Raiola: -2.3
Travis Swanson: -2.2
Eric Ebron: -1.7
Matthew Stafford/Joique Bell: -1.6

Analysis:

We move on from another week where there are hardly any positive thoughts to be said about the Detroit Lions offense.

Riley Reiff went down with an injury early in the game, and Cornelius Lucas was forced to replace him. Lucas was immediately abused by the Patriots defensive line, and never recovered. Lucas has been on the field for just 221 snaps and already has one of the worst overall grades on the team (-7.9).

And according to PFF, rookie guard Travis Swanson has been even worse as Larry Warford’s replacement. Swanson’s -8.5 grade on 218 snaps is the fourth lowest grade on offense this year.

There was an apparent bright spot on the offensive line yesterday. LaAdrian Waddle was given a +2.1 grade even after he was called for a penalty. Waddle’s solid performance didn’t really make up for his peers as Stafford was consistently knocked to the ground by the ferocious front seven of the Patriots.

Raiola was given the second lowest grade by PFF and let his frustration get to him towards the end of yesterday’s game after diving at the knees of a couple of New England players on the final snap of the game. The NFL is currently reviewing the play to determine whether a fine is necessary for Raiola’s actions.

Defense

Best Grades:

Ndamukong Suh: +3.7
Isa Abdul-Quddus: +1.6
Rashean Mathis: +1.1
Ezekiel Ansah: +0.8
DeAndre Levy: +0.6

Worst Grades:

Andre Fluellen: -4.0
Cassius Vaughn: -3.9
Jason Jones: -2.4
George Johnson: -2.2
Devin Taylor: -1.3

Analysis:

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Lions defense look as vulnerable as they did yesterday. In a matchup between the number one ranked offense and the number one ranked defense, it was much more favorable for the former. The Lions got off to a nice start holding Tom Brady and company to a three-and-out their first drive, but after that, Brady was able to pick them apart.

Ndamukong Suh did all he could putting up yet another stellar performance and PFF agreed giving him a +3.7 grade.

As expected, Cassius Vaughn was targeted quite often by Brady and had a rough go against the top offense in the NFL. Vaughn has the second lowest grade all year for the Lions on just 200 snaps.

Levy also gave up eight receptions on nine targets but still managed to make the top five and has been lights out against the run this year. He currently holds the second highest grade among all 4-3 OLBs, and is number one in run stop percentage.