The Detroit Lions once again showcased their ability to dominate.
For the second straight home game, the Lions crushed an AFC opponent, beating the Jaguars 52-6 to improve to 9-1.
Here are grades for each position group based on Sunday’s game.
Quarterback: A
Jared Goff responded brilliantly, completing 24-of-29 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns, both season highs. After a five-interception outing against the Texans, Goff rebounded with scores to Jameson Williams, Brock Wright, and Amon-Ra St. Brown before exiting in the fourth quarter. Hendon Hooker replaced him, going 3-of-4 for 37 yards and leading a field goal drive.
Running backs: A
The ground game fueled the Lions’ offense early. David Montgomery shined on the opening drive, while Jahmyr Gibbs led the second. Montgomery finished with 75 rushing yards and 20 receiving yards, scoring twice, while Gibbs added 69 rushing yards and a 54-yard reception to set up another touchdown.
Wide receivers: A+
Detroit’s receivers had their best outing of the season. Amon-Ra St. Brown tallied 11 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while Jameson Williams added 124 yards on four catches, including a 64-yard score. Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, and Allen Robinson also contributed key plays.
Tight ends: A
With Sam LaPorta out, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, and James Mitchell stepped up. Zylstra made a 22-yard catch early, and Wright hauled in a touchdown while excelling as a blocker. Though LaPorta’s presence was missed, the group upheld strong run-blocking standards.
Offensive line: A
The line returned to full strength with Taylor Decker’s comeback. Despite an early slip against Travon Walker, the unit allowed no sacks and excelled in run blocking. Penei Sewell’s push aided Montgomery’s touchdown, while Glasgow and Decker made key blocks on Gibbs’ scoring run.
Defensive line: A
Za’Darius Smith debuted with a half-sack, recovering from a rib injury to finish strong. Levi Onwuzurike had a tackle for loss, while James Houston, Alim McNeill, and DJ Reader recorded multiple tackles. The line pressured Trevor Lawrence consistently and limited Travis Etienne to 2.3 yards per carry.
Linebackers: A-
Alex Anzalone’s broken forearm, sidelining him for 6-8 weeks, was a major blow. Jack Campbell stepped up with nine tackles and a shared sack, while Malcolm Rodriguez returned with a key tackle. Ben Niemann and Ezekiel Turner may see increased roles moving forward.
Secondary: A
Kerby Joseph recorded his league-leading seventh interception. Brian Branch delivered a hard hit on Evan Engram, while Carlton Davis played effectively with a cast on his broken thumb. Amik Robertson’s strong screen-pass defense helped force a Jaguars punt.
Special teams: A
Jake Bates made all his extra points and hit a 54-yard field goal. The Lions didn’t punt, and their coverage teams limited Devin Duvernay to just 58 return yards. Kalif Raymond added 30 yards on punt returns.
Coaching: A
The Lions avoided any hint of a trap game. After Jacksonville’s opening field goal, Detroit scored 28 straight points to control the game. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn executed game plans flawlessly, further solidifying their head coaching candidacies.
The Lions maintain control of their NFC destiny. Next, they face the Colts, who just reinstated Anthony Richardson, before a tough final stretch featuring divisional games and a matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
