Following every Lions matchup throughout this campaign, I will analyze their individual PFF ratings by unit. Detroit managed a tight 31–30 triumph against the Saints in an extra-period thriller, securing a crucial win. This specific piece focuses on analyzing the performance of the offensive front.
Offensive Line Review
Early in the contest, Christian Mahogany suffered what looked like an ankle issue and was forced out. His inability to return meant Ben Bartch had to take over at left guard for the rest of the game.
Looking first at Juice Scruggs, who was on the field for all 77 offensive plays at center, he earned the top mark among Detroit’s linemen. He wrapped up the day with a 77.5 overall rating, bolstered by a 79.6 mark in pass protection and a 75.0 grade in the run game.
Scruggs’ performance was highly encouraging as he stepped up for the sidelined Cade Mays. Over the course of the matchup, he surrendered only one quarterback hurry and one pressure, keeping his sack-allowed column completely clean.
Excluding Mahogany due to his limited 11 snaps, Blake Miller claimed the runner-up spot on the line with a 74.7 overall mark, featuring a 78.4 pass-blocking grade and a 69.3 run-blocking score. Miller yielded a single hurry and one pressure during his 74 plays at right tackle, while also logging a pair of snaps on the left side.
Penei Sewell recorded a 67.5 overall score and an unexpectedly modest 51.8 in pass protection, though he paced the entire unit with a stellar 79.1 run-blocking grade. Although flagged for a single penalty, the highlight of his day was Detroit moving him to right tackle during a crucial goal-line sequence to pave the way for a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run.
He gave up only one quarterback hurry and one pressure during the matchup.
The most notable sequence concerning Sewell occurred when rusher Sione Vaki collided with his backside, giving Saints defender Chase Young an open path to hit Jared Goff hard. At first, it seemed like New Orleans had secured a critical takeaway, but a little-known rule ultimately nullified the turnover upon review.
Though it initially resembled a fumble or a backward throw, the replay showed Goff’s hand was traveling forward in a passing motion. This led to an incomplete pass ruling, giving Detroit a massive stroke of luck.
Tate Ratledge ended the game with a 63.9 overall offensive rating, matching a solid 76.9 pass-protection mark against a subpar 57.9 run-blocking grade. He was also penalized once.
Even with the infraction, Ratledge did not allow any sacks, hits, hurries, or pressures, continuing the impressive trajectory established during his rookie campaign.
Leading up to kickoff, head coach Dan Campbell kept his left guard choice under wraps. Christian Mahogany eventually won the starting nod over Ben Bartch, but Mahogany’s early exit after only 11 plays forced Bartch into action for the rest of the game.
Bartch logged 66 snaps on the day, securing a 65.6 overall grade, a 53.4 in pass protection, and a 66.7 in run blocking. He picked up one penalty while yielding a single hit and pressure on the quarterback.
Summary
On the whole, the protection unit put together a strong performance, surrendering a solitary sack alongside eight hits on the passer.
The run game blocking was stellar, allowing Detroit to accumulate 163 yards and two scores on 31 rushing attempts. Gibbs accounted for the bulk of this yardage, though Vaki chipped in with seven yards on two attempts.
Should the blocking unit keep up this standard of play, Detroit is well-positioned to recapture the form they displayed two seasons ago.
