Detroit Lions well-represented on Pro Football Focus' midseason All-Pro team

At 6-1 with two blowout victories in their last three games, the Detroit Lions sit atop any credible NFL power rankings entering Week 9. In a certain analytical light through eight weeks this season, they are in rare, very heady air. All three phases have been a factor in winning games, and that was never on display more than it was in Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans.

Pro Football Focus has put together its midseason All-Pro team. Four Lions made the cut, across all three phases of the game.

Right tackle Penei Sewell is PFF's No. 3-graded offensive tackle in the league entering Week 9, so he's easily in that spot on the midseason All-Pro team.

"Sewell has been good in pass protection, allowing seven pressures from 229 pass-blocking snaps through Week 8, but has been even better as a run-blocker. His 86.0 PFF run-blocking grade ranks second among offensive tackles."

Lions unsurprisingly well-represented on PFF midseason All-Pro team

Brian Branch is PFF's No.1-graded safety through Week 8, so it's also no shock he's in one of those spots on the midseason All-Pro squad.

"Branch has spent more time as a true safety this season, allowing him to become one of the best defensive backs in football. He has earned an 86.6 PFF coverage grade, backed by four interceptions and six pass breakups so far."

Aidan Hutchinson was just usurped as the league leader in quarterback pressures in Week 8, despite not playing since suffering his season-ending leg injury in Week 6. He may eventually lose his spot as PFF's top-graded edge rusher when minimum snap thresholds come into play, but he joins T.J. Watt as an edge defender on the midseason All-Pro team.

'A broken leg ended Hutchinson’s season after just five games, so he won’t be in this spot by the end of the campaign, but his body of work is enough to earn a midseason nod. Despite not playing in the past three weeks, Hutchinson still ranks second in the NFL with 45 quarterback pressures."

Reigning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Kalif Raymond is PFF's midseason All-Pro return man.

"It hasn’t been a big year for returns so far, but Raymond’s huge performance in Week 8 helps him land the spot here. He returned a punt 90 yards for a score and racked up 190 total return yards in the game."

If there were honorable mentions for PFF's midseason All-Pros, the Lions would be well-represented there too. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill (No. 5), safety Kerby Joseph (No. 2) and center Frank Ragnow (No. 3) have top-five overall grades at their position right now. Right guard Kevin Zeitler has a top-10 overall grade at his position, and Jack Campbell is PFF's No. 12-graded linebacker.

Analytics and the eye test don't always match up. For this year's Lions, at the relative halfway point of the season, the two elements merge nicely to further show the depth of talent on the roster.