Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill Earn High PFF Grades

At 9-3, the Detroit Lions have proven that they can win a number of ways. 

Most recently, they had to hold on tightly to what was a 21-0 lead early in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. The defense struggled to stop the Saints' offense, which allowed the opponent to cut into the lead. 

As a result, Detroit was forced to earn the win with a late defensive stop and two key third-down conversions on the final drive. In the end, the Lions got back on the winning side with a 33-28 road triumph. 

The offense started lightning quick in Sunday's game, marching for touchdowns on their first three drives to take an early lead. Detroit would never relinquish the advantage, but the Saints got within three points, at 24-21, on a Taysom Hill touchdown run with 4:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

Detroit would answer with nine unanswered, first with a Riley Patterson field goal as time expired. After recovering a fumble on New Orleans' next play from scrimmage, Jameson Williams scored on a 19-yard run. A failed two-point conversion kept Detroit's advantage at 33-21. 

The Saints would score again to get within five and forced a punt, but turned the ball over on downs at Detroit's 40-yard line with 2:58 remaining. 

The Lions went 2-for-2 on third downs, with Jared Goff completing passes to Sam LaPorta and Josh Reynolds, to ice the game. 

Here are Pro Football Focus' highest and lowest graded Lions players from Sunday's game.

Highest PFF-graded offensive players

• TE Sam LaPorta -- 90.7
• RT Penei Sewell -- 80.4
• QB Jared Goff -- 77.7
• RG Graham Glasgow -- 76.0
• TE Brock Wright -- 75.8

Lowest PFF-graded offensive players

• LT Taylor Decker -- 55.0
• WR Donovan Peoples-Jones -- 54.7
• RB David Montgomery -- 54.7
• LG Jonah Jackson -- 48.8
• RG Colby Sorsdal -- 45.9

Highest PFF-graded defensive players

• DE Romeo Okwara -- 90.2
• DE Aidan Hutchinson -- 89.9
• DT Alim McNeill -- 78.1
• LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin -- 76.9
• LB Jack Campbell -- 74.4

Lowest PFF-graded defensive player

• DT Quinton Bohanna -- 53.4
• SS Tracy Walker III -- 52.7
• DT Benito Jones -- 52.4
• LB Derrick Barnes -- 50.8
• DE John Cominsky -- 49.9