Regardless of the stakes, Dan Campbell was adamant about bringing everything and everyone they had to the West Coast for this matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Even Fred Warner finally understood why the Detroit Lions went all out. Detroit finished the 2024 season with a perfect 8-0 record on the road, but it was the offense that made it possible — and some timely help from Kirby Joseph.
As we have done every week throughout the season for the Detroit Lions, we have access to a variety of news outlets to help us better understand the football the Lions have been playing and what to expect from the game. I have some data. Over the next few weeks. Let’s take a closer look at the Lions by the numbers after their win over the 49ers.
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+11.5 EPA reception
Expected Points Added (EPA) is an advanced statistic commonly used in soccer. In other words, this statistic measures how well a team or player performed compared to expectations on a play-by-play basis. In Week 17, Amon-Ra St. Brown posted a +11.5 receiving EPA, the third-best mark among all pass catchers. St. Brown’s efficient drive extensions have been critical to the Lions’ offensive line, converting five of his eight receptions into first downs, including a third-and-three and a touchdown. It also included a large number of catches on force-and-goals that led to.
Attrition rate 56.4%
As the team’s primary running back, Jahmil Gibbs continues to carry an increased workload effectively. Gibbs posted a 56.4% withdrawal rate in Week 17, the second-best mark among running backs. Here’s a breakdown of what PFF’s signature statistics track:
If a running back gains 15 or more yards on a run, PFF tracks that run as a breakaway run and all yards gained as breakaway yards. PFF then calculates a back’s breakaway percentage by dividing all of a running back’s breakaway yards by their total yards, showing which runners gained the highest (or lowest) percentage of yards on big runs .
Gibbs’ explosive play this year has really helped put this offense in a league of its own among the highest-scoring teams in NFL history. Detroit currently ranks 11th all-time in scoring (533, 33.3 points per game). And much of Detroit’s success against the 49ers on the ground this week should be attributed to the offensive line’s impressive performance: Gibbs gained the second-most yards of his career before contact (85 ).
Turnover-worthy play rate 0.0%
In order for this Lions team to compete in the future, it is essential that the offensive line takes care of soccer. Other than one careless spin trying to escape the clutches of Nick Bosa, Jared Goff played the cleanest football of the year, converting 0.0% of his plays into turnovers for the sixth time this season. Goff has done a great job of not putting the ball in jeopardy this season, with only 16 turnover-worthy plays through 16 games this season, which is a difference from his rookie season (’12), when he only played seven games. This is the lowest record since then.
100.0% pass blocking efficiency
Pass Blocking Efficiency (EFF) is a PFF signature statistic that measures pressures allowed per snap and weights sacks allowed. Bosa is a handful, but he outscored Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell in a few reps en route to 2.0 sacks. However, the Lions’ two offensive linemen, Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler, posted a perfect pass blocking efficiency score of 100.0% against the Niners. They didn’t allow a single quarterback hit, rush, pressure or sack.
We’ve seen this passing game suffer as Interiors can’t keep Goff clean, even with the return of a healthier Graham Glasgow (97.2% EFF, third-best among starters). also helped the passing offense stay strong all night.
Run stop rate 16.7%
For the second week in a row, the Lions’ run defense looked to the task of stopping the opponent’s running game. San Francisco gained just 75 yards on 18 carries, just shy of the 4.7 yards per carry they posted in the game. Sure, the 49ers were able to pivot to the passing game with little resistance, but that still doesn’t stop Detroit from defending against a formidable running attack that ranks 8th in rushing DVOA and 10th in EPA/Run. It’s heartening to see them staying true to their identity.
Pat O’Connor was a bright spot for the Lions in run defense this week, posting a 16.7% run stop rate and finishing as the third-best interior defender in the NFL at this point in Week 17.
22.5 snaps allowed per reception
Losing Carlton Davis for the remainder of the regular season felt like an insurmountable challenge for a defense already missing five other starters. However, Amik Robertson made a smooth transition to outside cornerback on the team opposite Terion Arnold after playing primarily in the slot for the first 15 weeks of the season. Robertson is proving to be not only the team’s solution at CB1, but also a revelation.
Of the 55 qualifying cornerbacks in Week 17, Robertson was the No. 1 cornerback in snaps per reception allowed (22.5). He faced six total targets and allowed just two catches for 22 yards on 49 coverage snaps, but did make a key pass breakup on third-and-10 against Jauan Jennings early in the fourth quarter. scored, forcing San Francisco into a 58-yard field goal. He missed his mark and flipped the field to Detroit.
