The Detroit Lions leaned on their defense to pull out a 19-9 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 9, extending their win streak to four games. Despite another inconsistent offensive performance, several Lions notched impressive grades from Pro Football Focus.
Penei Sewell led the offense, while Aidan Hutchinson fueled a defensive effort that kept Miami out of the end zone. Detroit entered the game as the NFL's top-ranked offense but were held to a season-low 270 total yards. Jared Goff failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time this season and has now thrown an interception in back-to-back games after starting the campaign with 14 touchdowns and zero picks.
The Lions' defensive front covered up for the lack of firepower on offense,
holding the Dolphins to 3.7 yards per carry and netting five tackles for loss. The Lions are one of only 11 teams across the league holding opponents under 100 yards on the ground. In their six wins this year, opponents are generating just 70.8 rushing yards per game.
Here's a look at Detroit's five highest-graded players on each side of the ball:
Top 5 offensive PFF grades
- Penei Sewell, OT: 83.6
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR: 78.3
- Jared Goff, QB: 73.8
- Juice Scruggs, C: 66.9
- Blake Miller, OT: 66.6
Sewell continues to deliver as the foundational pillar of this Lions offensive line, earning Detroit's highest overall grade. Though the Lions' offensive production was underwhelming, three linemen cracked the top five. St. Brown provided a reliable target in the passing game, leading all receivers with eight receptions for 86 yards. Goff's lone interception was the result of a tipped pass in the first quarter but overall he continued to be relatively efficient, completing 68% of his passes.
Top 5 defensive PFF grades
- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE: 79.5
- Tyleik Williams, DT: 78.0
- Rock Ya-Sin, CB: 77.3
- Alim McNeill, DT: 75.2
- Derrick Moore, EDGE: 71.7
The Lions' defensive front accounted for four of the team's five highest grades. Aidan Hutchinson led the way, while Williams and McNeill provided a dominant performance on the interior. Moore's inclusion further demonstrates the depth Brad Holmes has assembled within the unit.
Ya-Sin was the only defensive back to crack the top five. Collectively, Kelvin Sheppard's group held the Malik Willis-led Dolphins offense to 4.6 yards per play. The resurgence has helped to cover up for an offense that has regressed over the last four weeks.
Hutchinson and McNeill have combined for 84 combined quarterback pressures. Hutchinson leads the NFL with 50 and McNeill ranks No. 12 with 34. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are the only other set of teammates in the league in the top 12 in total pressures.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions PFF grades: Top 5 on offense, defense vs. Dolphins
