PFF player grades: Scores from Lions win over Colts

It may not have been as lopsided as some expected but the Detroit Lions again took care of business on Sunday.

Now off to their best start since 1934, the Lions will have to quickly regroup for a Thanksgiving showdown with the Bears.

First, though, let’s check out grades from Sunday’s win, courtesy of Pro Football Focus (minimum of 10 snaps played). For reference, a grade of 60.0 is considered average while those in the 30s are very poor and those in the 90s are elite.

Offense

• LT Taylor Decker — 81.3
• WR Tim Patrick — 80.7
• RG Kevin Zeitler — 75.4
• RB Jahmyr Gibbs — 75.2
• RB David Montgomery — 73.5
• WR Amon-Ra St. Brown — 72.6
• WR Jameson Williams — 72.4
• QB Jared Goff — 63.5
• RT Penei Sewell — 63.2

The lowest-graded Lions on offense were LT Dan Skipper (48.0), LG Graham Glasgow (51.1), C Frank Ragnow (52.9) and WR Kalif Raymond (53.4).

This group didn’t put up 40 points again but was still mostly strong on Sunday. Head coach Dan Campbell has praised Patrick a lot in recent weeks and he delivered again, with four catches for 55 yards, but also an impressive run-blocking performance.

LaPorta struggled a bit in his return from injury, and Glasgow and Ragnow combined to allow six pressures but still didn’t allow a sack against a tough Indianapolis front. They’ll have another challenge with Chicago’s physical line.

Defense

• ED Za’Darius Smith — 88.8
• DT Alim McNeill — 73.9
• LB Malcolm Rodriguez — 73.3
• S Kerby Joseph — 71.2
• DT DJ Reader — 70.6
• LB Ben Niemann — 68.2
• LB Jack Campbell — 67.7
• CB Carlton Davis III — 65.0
• DL Levi Onwuzurike — 64.9

Detroit’s lowest-graded defenders were CB Kindle Vildor (28.0), LB David Long Jr. (33.5) and S Brian Branch (51.0).

In just his second game in Honolulu blue, Smith led the team’s PFF grades, generating five of the unit’s 16 pressures. McNeill added four and Rodriguez was again really good in place of the injured Alex Anzalone, recording a team-high fours stops with strong coverage.

Davis continued his strong play, receiving only one target, which fell incomplete, Campbell allowed three catches for 63 yards put also had two breakups, Branch gave up just one catch on five targets and Vildor got picked on at times, allowing three catches for 60 yards on six targets.

We’ll see how they fare against a much-improved Bears offense on Thursday.