Lions' Linebackers Earn Poor PFF Grades against Chiefs

Read more on the top PFF-graded players from Thursday's game.

With a stunning win Thursday night over the defending Super Bowl champions, the Detroit Lions made a bold statement. 

The Lions came out victorious after a gritty effort in a battle with Kansas City. In the fourth quarter, the offensive line flexed its muscle, and the defense came up with big stops. 

After the struggles of Dan Campbell's first year and the resurgence in his second, the win felt vindicating for a fanbase, amidst an offseason that generated unprecedented levels of optimism.

"I think any win, at this point after what we've endured over the last couple years is gonna feel good," Campbell said. "I know this, I'm gonna enjoy it for two or three days here, and then it's back to work, because it's all for not if you don't carry it over. I'm proud of the guys, I'm proud of the way we worked, I'm proud of the staff. Proud of Brad. Hell, he constructed this. We got a chance. Think we came out pretty healthy. It's good, but that was win one." 

Here are Pro Football Focus' highest-and-lowest-graded Lions from Thursday's win. 

Top PFF-graded offensive players

• OG Halapoulivaati Vaitai (88.4)
• RB Jahmyr Gibbs (78.8)
• QB Jared Goff (76.5)
• OT Penei Sewell (75.5)
• C Frank Ragnow (75.1)

Worst PFF-graded offensive players

• TE James Mitchell -- 59.5
• RB David Montgomery -- 55.1
• FB Jason Cabinda -- 54.0
• TE Brock Wright -- 38.8
• WR Marvin Jones -- 35.1

Top PFF-graded defensive players

• DT Alim McNeill -- 78.6
• LB Derrick Barnes -- 74.9
• DE Josh Paschal -- 73.4
• DE Charles Harris -- 70.4
• S C.J. Gardner-Johnson -- 69.4

Worst PFF-graded defensive players

• DT Benito Jones -- 59.7
• CB Cameron Sutton -- 57.9
• LB Jack Campbell -- 53.2
• CB Will Harris -- 42.9
• LB Malcolm Rodriguez -- 31.9