Lions-Packers PFF Grades: Ebron struggles in big win over the Packers

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.

1991 never happened. The fact of the matter is that the Green Bay Packers haven't beaten the Detroit Lions at home since 2014. Ronda Rousey was unbeatable the last time the Lions lost at Lambeau. Mike Babcock was the coach of the Detroit Red Wings. I can't even remember what I ate for breakfast that day. How dare any of you call this a wasted season. Anyway, here is a closer look at the individual performances from Sunday's victory over the Packers.

Offense

Best Grades

Calvin Johnson: +2.3
Ameer Abdullah: +1.3
Matthew Stafford: +1.1
Golden Tate: +1.1

Worst Grades

Laken Tomlinson: -4.5
Michael Ola: -3.0
Eric Ebron: -2.3
Brandon Pettigrew: -2.1
Joique Bell: -1.7
LaAdrian Waddle: -1.1

Analysis

Tomlinson has showed some promise as a rookie, but received his lowest grade this year against Green Bay. There is no such thing as "average" for him. He's either really good or really bad lately.

Michael Ola came in to replace Waddle at RT after a series or two and did a very nice job as a pass blocker, allowing just a single pressure all game. However, he was atrocious in the run game according to PFF. His low overall grade was largely in part due to his -4.2 run block grade.

Calvin Johnson had a nice game, if you forget about his drop on the onside kick that nearly lost the Lions the game. Stafford also earned just his second positive grade on the entire year and his first since Week 6 against Chicago (WOTB).

Eric Ebron's -2.5 pass grade is the lowest of his career. On eight targets, he caught four balls and dropped three passes. That's only going to continue to add fuel to the fire of the hatred that many fans seem to have toward him. Ebron now has six drops on the year for an 18.2 percent drop rate. Only Jared Cook (18.5%) and Mike Evans (21.6%) have higher drop rates this season (including all positions).

Kudos to Ameer Abdullah for nearly running back a kick return for a touchdown, though, I'm still waiting to see his role expand on offense. Running an outside zone with Joique Bell isn't going to work at this point in his career. Not even if you have the best offensive line in the NFL.

Defense

Best Grades

Darius Slay: +3.3
Isa Abdul-Quddus: +2.2
Quandre Diggs: +2.2
Glover Quin: +1.2

Worst Grades

Devin Taylor: -3.7
Tahir Whitehead: -3.5
Ezekiel Ansah: -1.9
Haloti Ngata: -1.2
C.J. Wilson: -1.0

Analysis

Say what you want about Darius Slay, but he's been on complete lockdown mode as of late. He now has the 12th-highest grade among 110 qualifying CBs on the year. Slay was targeted on just a single pass from Rodgers and didn't give up a completion. He was all over James Jones on Sunday.

I thought Nevin Lawson did a spectacular job of guarding Davante Adams, but PFF gave him a -0.2 overall grade for his efforts. Lawson was targeted 16 times and allowed only seven catches for 57 yards and a QB Rating of 53.4.

Ziggy Ansah had his worst performance of the year with a -1.9 overall grade. Either the turf was hampering his performance, or he had some Heelys on his cleats, because it seemed like every time I looked his way he was slipping and falling.

Devin Taylor was completely invisible on defense against the Packers. He was unable to find the stat sheet and recorded just one pressure on 45 pass rushing snaps.

Special Teams

Best Grades

None

Worst Grades

Matt Prater: -2.4

Analysis

You had one job.