Lions-Vikings PFF Grades: A terrible performance by the offense

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.

Let's take a closer look at what they had to say about the Detroit Lions' loss to the Minnesota Vikings, shall we?

Offense

Best Grades

Michael Burton: +2.4
Manny Ramirez: +1.5

Worst Grades

Cornelius Lucas: -4.7
Matthew Stafford: -4.3
Riley Reiff: -3.7
Larry Warford: -3.5
Lance Moore: -2.1
Ameer Abdullah: -1.4
Theo Riddick: -1.3

Analysis

I will be the first to say that Matthew Stafford did not look good against the Vikings and I'll even throw a little bit of shade at him. But I also respect the hell out of him for taking a beating and staying out there. I truly feel bad for the guy and what he has to put up with. There are a lot of factors to this. Obviously, the offensive line has been terrible. LaAdrian Waddle was listed as active and it was apparently the coaches decision to go with Cornelius Lucas at right tackle. That was a bad decision, because Lucas has only proven that he's capable of murdering his own quarterback and letting defenders slip by in the run game.

Not only did Stafford not have a whole lot of time to throw the ball all game, but it also didn't help that when they finally gained a little bit of momentum on offense, someone would cough up the ball to the Vikings. It was an overall sloppy game for the entire offense. I doubt that Stafford was anywhere near 100 percent by the time the game was over. He was probably closer to 30 percent, by the looks of it. Even when he had a clean pocket (it was rare), he was missing open throws, or leaving yards out on the field by not hitting his receivers in stride. The entire offense was a dumpster fire.

Stafford was pressured on 38 percent of his dropbacks. The O-line and running backs gave up a combined 20 total pressures according to PFF, and I think that's a bit generous. Even Larry Warford, who is easily the Lions' best O-lineman, recorded the fourth-lowest (-3.5) grade on offense.

Burton and Ramirez were the only two players on offense with a positive grade. It was tough to watch this offense perform. It's becoming a chore.

Defense

Best Grades

Ezekiel Ansah: +4.5
James Ihedigbo: +4.4
Stephen Tulloch: +2.8
Tahir Whitehead: +1.7
Travis Lewis: +1.5

Worst Grades

Tyrunn Walker: -3.1
Jermelle Cudjo: -2.7
Jason Jones: -1.6
Quandre Diggs: -1.1

Analysis

The defense actually looked improved since last week's beatdown by the Chargers, but it was far from perfect. Despite giving up nearly five yards per carry on the ground and 199 rushing yards, PFF gave out some pretty high run defense grades to the Lions. Ihedigbo went from the lowest grade last week, to the second-highest this week, including a +4.0 run defense grade.

Tulloch had a rough start to the year, but looked pretty solid against the Vikings. I'm not exactly sure why he was off the field for nearly 1/4 of the game. Regardless, the linebacker unit was not the problem on defense this time around. It was the interior defensive line that was gashed in the run game, and the entire D-line could not muster up any pressure in the backfield.

Walker and Cudjo's low grades were a result of their poor play against the run (-2.6 and -2.5, respectively). Gabe Wright was also given a low run defense grade (-1.7) on just seven rushing snaps. Jason Jones had zero pressures and lined up offsides on a key fumble that would have given the Lions the ball. The Lions really need to get some pressure off the edges, because Jones hasn't brought it since he's been in Detroit.

Special Teams

Best Grades

None

Worst Grades

Sam Martin: -1.1

Analysis

Sam Martin had another poor performance punting the ball. Three of his four punts were returned for a net of 34.5 yards.