Even after a night’s rest, the sting lingers from the Detroit Lions’ 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, a defeat that can only be described as tough in every sense of the word.
Considering the competitiveness between two playoff-caliber teams, there were pivotal moments in the game where execution could have been different for the Lions. Unfortunately, the conversation now revolves around the referee error that nullified the potential game-winning two-point conversion for the Lions. Overcoming such challenging situations is tough, but this resilient team is poised to move forward, gearing up to face the Minnesota Vikings next week.
While some Lions delivered masterful performances last night, others may hesitate to review the tape. Here are the best and worst PFF grades for the Lions against the Cowboys.
Top Offensive Players
(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
- WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: 89.0
- LT Taylor Decker: 78.2
- QB Jared Goff: 75.7
- TE Sam LaPorta: 70.3
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs: 68.7
St. Brown continues to assert his dominance, securing six out of seven targets for 90 yards. His highlight was the touchdown grab, showcasing his stretch and contributing to the Lions’ comeback. Despite a penalty from Decker, St. Brown played a masterful game and earned high marks in both run and pass blocking. Goff did throw two interceptions, well-read by the Cowboys defense, but he demonstrated strong efficiency in the final drive, making the necessary throws.
On the flip side, LaPorta had a challenging day, receiving a poor grade in run blocking, which was evident during the game. While it took him some time to find his groove in the receiving department, he proved crucial towards the end. Despite a long run being nullified by a holding penalty, Gibbs continues to exhibit his savvy on the field.
Worst Offensive Players
Lions offensive players huddle before a play against the Cowboys during the first half at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023.
- TE James Mitchell: 33.3
- LG Jonah Jackson: 43.4
- RG Graham Glasgow: 45.5
- WR Josh Reynolds: 55.7
- WR Kalif Raymond: 61.2
With Brock Wright sidelined for another game, the onus was on Mitchell to step up; however, mistakes accumulated, with Mitchell being the culprit for holding on the negated long run by Gibbs, among other errors. While Jackson and Glasgow are typically forces along the line, they faced a formidable challenge from the Cowboys’ defensive line last night, both receiving poor grades in pass protection, surrendering a combined nine pressures.
Apart from St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the Lions’ receiving corps had a subdued day. Reynolds and Raymond collectively received only three targets, managing to catch two for a total of 24 yards.
Top Defensive Players
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
- DE Aidan Hutchinson: 87.7
- LB Derrick Barnes: 77.1
- CB Brian Branch: 76.1
- S Ifeatu Melifonwu: 70.8
- S Kerby Joseph: 60.6
Hutchinson delivered a career-defining performance, tallying five tackles for loss and securing three sacks, an impressive feat considering he faced one of the league’s premier left tackles in Tyron Smith. Barnes, despite a significant mental lapse that could have resulted in a safety, played a key role in the robust run defense. Branch showcased his first-round talent with an impactful performance at nickel, notching two pass breakups and two run stops.
While Melifonwu allowed a Brandin Cooks touchdown, he continued to showcase his prowess with another interception. Joseph contributed significantly in the backfield, recording seven tackles and a pass breakup, although he did miss two tackles, an aspect that needs improvement.
It’s worth noting that both Romeo Okwara and Jalen Reeves-Maybin scored higher than Joseph. However, Okwara saw limited action with only nine snaps, and Reeves-Maybin had just twelve snaps in this game.
Worst Defensive Players
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 30: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys fumbles the ball for a touchback against Kindle Vildor #29 of the Detroit Lions during the second quarter in the game at AT&T Stadium on December 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
- DT Benito Jones: 38.9
- CB Cam Sutton: 41.3
- DE Bruce Irvin: 42.4
- DT Tyson Alualu: 49.3
- CB Kindle Vildor: 55.1
Jones played a pivotal role in stifling the Cowboys’ running game, but as a position that often goes unnoticed, his grade was lower in this matchup. The performance of the Lions’ outside corners left much to be desired this week. Sutton, primarily tasked with covering CeeDee Lamb, arguably had his toughest game as a Lion, allowing catches on all nine targets thrown his way, resulting in 113 yards and two missed tackles. Vildor, victim to Lamb’s long touchdown, showcased strength in run defense with three stops.
While the Lions’ practice squad call-ups, Alualu and Irvin, saw substantial action, the impact was limited. Together, they generated only one pressure and one tackle. Given that this was Alualu’s first game with the Lions and Irvin’s second, the effort from these veteran players was commendable.