Lions-Bears PFF Grades: Calvin Johnson goes off

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.

WE OWN THE BEARS pic.twitter.com/tvvs9ddEDm

— Kylo Reno (@alex_reno) January 3, 2016

Offense

Best Grades

Calvin Johnson: +5.0
Matthew Stafford: +1.9
Joique Bell: +1.6
Manny Ramirez: +1.5
Theo Riddick: +1.3

Worst Grades

Eric Ebron: -3.0
Bear Pascoe: -2.0
Larry Warford: -1.7

Analysis

Could this be Calvin Johnson's last grade in a Detroit Lions uniform?! I kid. He's not going anywhere. After dropping a couple of passes last week, Megatron bounced back with his highest overall grade of the season. He is now ranked No. 5 out of 119 receivers via PFF. He's still got it, folks.

Stafford also had himself a nice game and was arguably one of the best QBs in the league during the second half. I'd say there's a very good chance that Jim Caldwell's job is safe and a lot of that has to do with keeping offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. It's hard to argue with results and I'm okay with that. You're only as good as where your quarterback can take you and if JBC is going to get the most out of Stafford then let's see what happens.

Eric Ebron made some solid catches in the passing game, but it was his run blocking that collected the heat from PFF. Actually, all three of the big negatives were due to poor run blocking. Pascoe's -2.3 run blocking grade was the lowest, while Ebron (-2.1) and Warford (-1.7) followed suit.

Defense

Best Grades

Ezekiel Ansah: +2.4
Tahir Whitehead: +2.2
Devin Taylor: +1.9

Worst Grades

Quandre Diggs: -4.7
C.J. Wilson: -1.9

Analysis

Not quite the way you'd like to finish the year if you're Quandre Diggs, but hey, the kid had a hell of a year, so let's give him a break. Diggs ended the game allowing five catches on five targets for 131 yards and a touchdown. Like I said, it wasn't pretty, but there is a hell of a lot to be excited for heading into this year with Diggs as your starting slot corner.

Ziggy Ansah racked up five total pressures against the Bears and leads all 4-3 defensive ends in pass rushing productivity (a stat created by PFF). The Lions better lock him up to a long-term deal before he hits the market because I'm sure they don't want another Ndamukong Suh situation. Ansah needs to stick around if they know what's good for them. He's special.

Tahir Whitehead has done a spectacular job ever since his increased workload and you have to wonder what the hell Teryl Austin was thinking when he decided to bench him early in the year. This is a big reason why I don't believe Austin is the right candidate for the next head coaching gig. He is a hell of a coordinator and an intelligent fellow, but his personnel decisions and substitutions are average at best. Still, I hope to see him back in the same role for the Lions, but it's looking more and more unlikely as Austin interviews with several other teams for a head coaching gig.

Special Teams

Best Grades

None

Worst Grades

None

Analysis

Special teams wasn't great and there were a lot of small negatives, but nothing too serious.