The Detroit Lions had the franchise’s most successful season of the Super Bowl era in 2023. Dan Campbell’s Lions finished the 2023 campaign with a 12-5 record, an NFC North title and the first two postseason victories since 1991.
The team grades for the regular season from Pro Football Focus largely reflect the success. PFF’s final overall season grades in the different areas of the team put the Lions as one of the NFL’s top squads. The breakdown between all those different metrics paints a pretty accurate picture of the 2023 Detroit Lions.
As fans might expect, the offense was near the top in almost every aspect. Detroit finished in the top 10 in all the major metrics, from overall offense to receiving. It was a different story on defense, where the team finished outside the top 10 in every category but one.
Overall
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 92.3
Rank: 5th
Total offense
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 92.3
Rank: 2nd
Passing offense
Sep 7, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates with quarterback Jared Goff (16) after scoring during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 84.3
Rank: 5th
Pass blocking
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), center, fist bumps the offensive line before a play against Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.
Grade: 71.1
Rank: 9th
Receiving
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 16: Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his touchdown with Kalif Raymond #11 during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Ford Field on December 16, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Grade: 83.0
Rank: 3rd
Running
Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs past Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 87.6
Rank: 9th
Run blocking
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Grade: 77.6
Rank: 2nd
Overall defense
Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill, right, high-fives linebacker Derrick Barnes during warmups before the NFC wild-card game at Ford Field on Sunday, Jan, 14, 2024.
Grade: 72.3
Rank: 19th
Run defense
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 74.8
Rank: 5th
Tackling
Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Grade: 49.5
Rank: 21st
Pass rush
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Grade: 75.4
Rank: 16th
Coverage
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Grade: 58.3
Grade: 29th
Special teams
Detroit Lions place kicker Michael Badgley (17) attempts a field goal against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.
Grade: 83.3
Rank: 14th (tied)