Lions-Seahawks PFF Grades: Another offensive implosion

If you're not aware by now, Pro Football Focus is a website that focuses on grading NFL players for their individual performances based on an in-depth review of every snap for every game. If you're interested, here is a look at their grading system.

I'm running out of ways to explain how bad the Detroit Lions looked and I'm sure you're getting tired of reading the same demoralizing grades and statistics over and over. But let's take a closer look at the Lions' individual performances from their loss to the Seahawks anyway, shall we?

Offense

Best Grades

Riley Reiff: +2.1
Eric Ebron: +1.1

Worst Grades

LaAdrian Waddle: -4.9
Travis Swanson: -3.9
Tim Wright: -2.3
Laken Tomlinson: -1.7
Matthew Stafford: -1.3

Analysis

Riley Reiff was flagged twice, including a personal foul where he dived on an opposing player who was already on the ground and out of the play. Considering how incredibly dumb of a penalty this was to take, he must have done really good for himself otherwise to gain a positive grade. His pass blocking (+2.2) and run blocking (+1.7) grade were by far the best among the offensive line. Reiff did not give up a single pressure to Seattle.

The rest of the O-line did not leave Seattle unscathed. Each starter other than Reiff combined for 13 total pressures given up. Waddle led the team with six and earned the worst pass rushing grade (-3.8). He's had a rough time since his return from injury, to say the least. Waddle has the lowest mark on the season for the Lions with a -14.4 overall grade. He's 70th among 73 total OTs. Only four of the 73 have played fewer snaps than Waddle.

As I'm sure all of you know by now, the Detroit Lions have the worst rushing attack in the NFL. The culprits from Monday night's game were Travis Swanson (-3.4 run blocking), Tim Wright (-2.7) and LaAdrian Waddle (-1.3). A fun game I like to play when re-watching these games is to try and figure out whether Tim Wright is trying to run block or breakdance during every run play. The results may surprise you.

Defense

Best Grades

Darryl Tapp: +3.1
James Ihedigbo: +2.6
Ezekiel Ansah: +1.7
Travis Lewis: +1.1

Worst Grades

Stephen Tulloch: -3.1
Josh Wilson: -2.5
Caraun Reid: -2.4
Haloti Ngata: -1.9

Analysis

The defense had their best game of the year and I was very impressed with how they were able to limit Seattle's offense to just 13 points on the evening. They combined for 30 total pressures with many coming from their linebackers and defensive backs.

PFF's biggest knock toward the Lions' defense was in pass coverage. Five players earned a pass coverage grade lower than -1.0: Josh Wilson (-2.0), Stephen Tulloch (-1.6), Glover Quin (-1.4), Josh Bynes (-1.3) and Rashean Mathis (-1.1). I have to say that I did not expect Tulloch to look this bad following a solid training camp and preseason.

Ezekiel Ansah continues to be a force in the run game and has the third-highest run defense grade (+6.7) among all 4-3 defensive ends on the year. James Ihedigbo was noticeably good against the Seahawks and had a key third-down stop in the fourth-quarter. Darryl Tapp is quietly having himself a nice year and has the second-highest overall grade on defense for the Lions this year.

I also felt like Travis Lewis should have earned an even higher grade than he did for Monday's game. He was by far the best linebacker out on the field for the Lions. I truly never envisioned myself uttering that sentence, but there it is.

Special Teams

Best Grades

Sam Martin: +2.0
Nevin Lawson: +2.0

Worst Grades

No one

Analysis

Nevin Lawson had himself a night on special teams and accounted for three solo tackles against the Seahawks. Sam Martin punted the ball eight times and had a decent night, aside from one poor punt.