After posting the Detroit Lions’ top Pro Football Focus overall defensive grade last week against the Cleveland Browns, they’ve done it again in Week 5.
The Lions may have struggled down the stretch — giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter to the Cincinnati Bengals — but their dominant first three quarters resulted in the team’s highest defensive grade of 87.3 since Week 6 of 2024 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Leading the way were the usual suspects in feature linebacker Jack Campbell and elite edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who continue to be the motor of this defense.
Campbell posted the highest defensive grade of his career with a 92.8, which is second in the NFL for the week before Monday night’s game.
As always, Campbell was everywhere, amassing seven tackles, five defensive stops in the run game (84.5 run defense grade), two pressures on the quarterback and was dominant in his limited coverage opportunities, earning a 90.5 coverage grade.
Hutchinson wasn’t far behind with a 91.6 overall defensive grade, marking his third straight game earning a 90-plus grade, with a 91.7 pass rushing mark.
There was only one sack for Hutchinson against the Bengals, but he totaled eight hurries and had two defensive stops. Another sack for a safety ended up being nullified by a penalty, however his 24 pressures over the last three weeks lead the league by seven.
He was fifth in the league in overall defensive grade this week, second in pass rush and currently tied for first in the NFL for overall defensive grade (93.0) this season among qualified players.
It wasn’t just those two leading the Lions to post their best defensive grade, second-best pass rushing grade and best coverage game of the season.
But the pair continue to show why they’re among the fastest-rising young defenders in the NFL, impacting winning as much as anyone.
See below for more on the PFF grades and rundown of the snap counts:
*PFF evaluates every player on every play in multiple facets of the game, such as passing, rushing, receiving, pass blocking, run defense, etc. It is important to note that PFF doesn’t base its grade on the outcome of the play, butrather what a player attempts to do on a given play.
Five highest-graded defenders (with at least 10 snaps): LB Jack Campbell (92.8), DE Aidan Hutchinson (91.6), DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (75.5), LB Alex Anzalone (74.3), DL Roy Lopez (74.0)
Five-lowest graded defenders (with at least 10 snaps): DL Tyler Lacy (57.6), CB Terrion Arnold (58.2), LB Derrick Barnes (60.5), DL DJ Reader (62.1), DB Brian Branch (67.6)
Five highest-graded offensive players (with at least 10 snaps): OL Christian Mahogany (85.9), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (85.6), OL Penei Sewell (84.4), TE Sam LaPorta (82.8), RB Jahmyr Gibbs (76.7)
Five lowest-graded offensive players (with at least 10 snaps): OL Giovanni Manu (42.2), TE Brock Wright (47.8), TE Ross Dwelley (51.3), WR Jameson Williams (56.7), OL Tate Ratledge (62.4)
*We’re used to seeing the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell regularly turn in excellent performances on PFF. But at the top for the first time this season is first-year starting right guard Christian Mahogany. Season-highs in overall offense (85.9) and run blocking (83.2) show the continued progress for the young guard.
*As good as one young O-lineman was, the Lions also saw their lowest PFF grade from first-time starting left tackle Giovanni Manu with a 42.2 overall grade and a 17.5 pass blocking grade, the team’s lowest from a starting O-lineman since Graham Glasgow in last year’s playoff defeat to the Washington Commanders. It’s a bit harsh on Manu, who only allowed to pressures, but both were sacks and one was a strip sack that led to a turnover.
*Don’t forget about Hutchinson’s new partner in crime, Al-Quadin Muhammad. He had another solid PFF day, with a 75.5 overall defensive grade and 72.7 pass rushing mark. While he didn’t get a sack, Muhammad caused six pressures. He’s now up to 17 for the season, which ties for 28th in the NFL. For a guy that played seven snaps in Week 1, that’s a pretty impressive jump.
OFFENSE (Out of 62)
OL Christian Mahogany -- 62 (100%)
OL Penei Sewell -- 62 (100%)
OL Tate Ratledge -- 62 (100%)
QB Jared Goff -- 62 (100%)
OL Graham Glasgow -- 62 (100%)
OL Giovanni Manu -- 62 (100%)
TE Sam LaPorta -- 58 (94%)
WR Jameson Williams -- 51 (82%)
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown -- 50 (81%)
TE Brock Wright -- 45 (73%)
RB David Montgomery -- 33 (53%)
RB Jahmyr Gibbs -- 32 (52%)
WR Isaac TeSlaa -- 21 (34%)
TE Ross Dwelley -- 16 (26%)
WR Dominic Lovett -- 2 (3%)
WR Kalif Raymond -- 2 (3%)
DEFENSE (Out of 62)
LB Jack Campbell -- 62 (100%)
S Kerby Joseph -- 62 (100%)
LB Alex Anzalone -- 62 (100%)
CB Amik Robertson -- 62 (100%)
DB Brian Branch -- 61 (98%)
LB Derrick Barnes -- 58 (94%)
DE Aidan Hutchinson -- 58 (94%)
CB Terrion Arnold -- 48 (77%)
DE Al-Quadin Muhammad -- 41 (66%)
DL DJ Reader -- 39 (63%)
CB Rock Ya-Sin -- 29 (47%)
DL Roy Lopez -- 27 (44%)
DL Tyleik Williams -- 21 (34%)
DL Tyler Lacy -- 14 (23%)
DL Pat O’Connor -- 11 (18%)
LB Trevor Nowaske -- 9 (15%)
DB Avonte Maddox -- 9 (15%)
CB Tre Flowers -- 9 (15%)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grant Stuard -- 24 (83%)
Trevor Nowaske -- 22 (76%)
Jacob Saylors -- 20 (69%)
Craig Reynolds -- 18 (62%)
Pat O’Connor -- 18 (62%)
Loren Strickland -- 17 (59%)
Brock Wright -- 15 (52%)
Derrick Barnes -- 15 (52%)
Thomas Harper -- 13 (45%)
Tyrus Wheat -- 13 (45%)
Ty Summers -- 12 (41%)
K Jake Bates -- 11 (38%)
Dominic Lovett -- 11 (38%)
P Jack Fox -- 10 (34%)
LS Hogan Hatten -- 10 (34%)
Avonte Maddox -- 10 (34%)
Isaac TeSlaa -- 9 (31%)
Ross Dwelley -- 8 (28%)
Jack Campbell -- 8 (28%)
Rock Ya-Sin -- 8 (28%)
Christian Mahogany -- 5 (17%)
Penei Sewell -- 5 (17%)
Tate Ratledge -- 5 (17%)
Kayode Awosika -- 5 (17%)
Trystan Colon -- 5 (17%)
Tre Flowers -- 4 (14%)
Roy Lopez -- 4 (14%)
Al-Quadin Muhammad -- 4 (14%)
Brian Branch -- 4 (14%)
Kalif Raymond -- 2 (7%)
Sam LaPorta -- 2 (7%)
Amon-Ra St. Brown -- 2 (7%)
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