Lions' Grades: Offense Ends Record Year on High Note
The Detroit Lions ended the regular season on a high note, dispatching the Minnesota Vikings 30-20 Sunday to finish with a 12-5 record.
The offense was explosive and the defense did a solid job putting heat on Minnesota quarterback Nick Mullens. It was a balanced effort, and the Lions wound up making enough plays to keep their opponent at bay.
The Lions set franchise records for touchdowns and total net yards, emphasizing just how good the offense has been all year.
Here are grades for each position group based on performance in Sunday's game.
Quarterback: A
Goff delivered another strong performance in his final showing prior to the postseason. He was precise in a workmanlike effort, throwing for 320 yards on 72 percent completions with two scores.
He hit Kalif Raymond in stride on his first deep ball, setting up a touchdown. The veteran did a masterful job executing the game plan, hitting his short throws and keeping Detroit ahead of the chains.
With the run game largely neutralized, the Lions utilized screens and short throws to move down the field. Goff's best play of the day came when he hit a downfield strike to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who finished the 70-yard score with an impressive display of field awareness and physicality.
Running backs: B-
The Vikings did a solid job slowing the Lions' potent run game down. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 70 yards total on 23 attempts.
Montgomery crossed over the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career, while Gibbs came up 55 yards short. Both players punched in short touchdowns near the red zone.
Gibbs was kept quiet for the second straight game. He was tackled for a loss twice and had a long of just eight yards. He also was held without a reception for the second consecutive week.
Wide receivers: A
Without Jameson Williams, the Lions leaned heavily on Amon-Ra St. Brown through the air. The third-year wideout finished off a banner regular season with a career-high 144 yards on seven catches, including a 70-yard catch-and-run.
The USC product admitted after the game that he had reached both of his personal goals for the season, notching 1,500 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Outside of St. Brown, the Lions utilized a trio of other receivers. Josh Reynolds entered the game close to reaching incentives-based bonuses, and the Lions targeted him in the red zone and on three consecutive plays in the fourth quarter in order to ensure he reached one of them.
Kalif Raymond had two catches for 50 yards but left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Donovan Peoples-Jones had two catches for 25 yards, including a 20-yard catch to convert a fourth-and-1.
Tight ends: B
Sam LaPorta began his afternoon by breaking the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie tight end. His 2-yard touchdown catch cemented that record, and he had five catches for 29 yards before suffering a knee injury that will likely force him to miss the playoff opener.
Prior to the injury, he had a big impact as a pass-catcher as well as a blocker. He threw a nice block on a screen to St. Brown and another good one on Gibbs' touchdown run.
With LaPorta out and Brock Wright inactive, James Mitchell became the lone active tight end in the second half. The Lions utilized Dan Skipper in this role as well, and Mitchell and Skipper each caught passes.
Mitchell's catch was his first of the season, and he displayed impressive athleticism leaping to haul in a high pass from Goff.
Offensive line: B
Goff was sacked only once Sunday when Taylor Decker was beaten by Danielle Hunter, but the unit was otherwise solid in pass protection.
In addition to his catch, Skipper was greeted by standing ovations when reporting as eligible as the extra blocker.
The Lions struggled on the ground, but had success in pass protection. This is a credit to the group, as Hunter and company posed a prominent threat. Detroit handled the pass rush by implementing shorter throws and quick releases.
The lone penalty on the group came when Graham Glasgow was penalized for a false start.
Defensive line: A
The return of Alim McNeill provided a big boost up front for the Lions. McNeill nearly got home in the second quarter, just missing a sack on Nick Mullens.
Aidan Hutchinson continued his stretch of strong play with two sacks and a big tackle for loss on a reverse to Justin Jefferson. The Michigan product finishes the regular season with 11.5 sacks.
Levi Onwuzurike also recorded his first sack of the season. It was the second sack of his career and first since 2021. Romeo Okwara had another that was negated by an illegal contact penalty.
Josh Paschal added a tackle for loss and pass defensed, while veteran Tyson Alualu added two tackles in his second game elevated from the practice squad.
Linebackers: B
Jack Campbell finished the regular season on a high note, producing a game-high 12 tackles with his second sack of the season. Alex Anzalone added nine, while Derrick Barnes had five and two quarterback hits.
Campbell's sack came on a perfectly timed blitz, as he raced past Minnesota's line untouched and wrapped Mullens to the ground. An Anzalone blitz led directly to Mullens' first of two interceptions.
Jalen Reeves-Maybin added two tackles defensively, including a big open field stop on third down to force a punt in the first half.
Secondary: C-
Once again, the Lions struggled to contain a top-tier receiver. Justin Jefferson came up just short of becoming the second wide receiver to post 200 yards against the Lions in as many games, catching 12 passes for 192 yards and a score.
Jefferson beat Kindle Vildor for his score, beating the cornerback on a fourth-and-1 on which the Lions were selling out to stop the run. Cam Sutton was later beaten for a score by Jordan Addison.
The Vikings narrowly missed another score to Addison on a flea-flicker. Kerby Joseph bit on the run fake, but Addison slowed down and was unable to haul in Mullens' pass.
Sutton was flagged for illegal contact but bounced back with his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who played for the first time since Week 2, had four tackles and picked off Mullens' final pass.
Special teams: B+
The Lions need to sure up specifically their extra point unit, as Michael Badgley missed a point after for the second time since being added to the roster. The Lions have now missed four as a team, which could prove costly with the postseason looming.
However, Kalif Raymond had a strong day returning punts. He notched 89 yards on four returns, an aspect that could also be a difference maker in a positive way for the Lions as they enter the playoffs.
Jack Fox did his part to help the team dominate field position, pinning the Vikings inside the 20 on two different instances including once at the 2-yard line.
Coaching: B
Campbell's decision to play his starters will be scrutinized as a result of LaPorta's injury, but the team entered the game with an opportunity to play its way into the No. 2 seed.
With the extra home game being an important factor in playoff success, this game was rightfully emphasized for the Lions. Though the team didn't end up getting that No. 2 mark, they were able to generate positive momentum heading into next week.
Offensively, Johnson did a good job supplementing a struggling run game with quick passes. The Lions responded well offensively each time the Vikings tried to claw back into the game.
Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn both called good games from their respective positions. The defense once again struggled to defend the pass, but they continued to generate pressure on Mullens and registered four sacks.
These secondary issues need to be improved with a potent Rams passing attack coming to Ford Field Sunday. With a golden opportunity to win a playoff game for the first time since 1991, slowing down Matt Stafford through the air will be a primary point of emphasis.
