Lions-Vikings key stats: Linebackers carry Detroit’s defense while pass rush stumbles

While Detroit’s defense figures out their pass-rush plan, the linebackers held it down for the Lions defense. That and more in this week’s look at advanced key statistics from Lions-Vikings.

Through seven weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the Detroit Lions are the No. 1 team in the NFC.

To get to that spot, the Lions went into the unfriendly confines of U.S. Bank Stadium and knocked off the Minnesota Vikings, putting the first blemish on the Vikings’ record this year after the team got off to an impressive 5-0 start.

As we’ll do every week throughout the season for this Lions team, we have some data we can comb through courtesy of Pro Football Focus that better helps us understand the football the Lions have played thus far—and what to look forward to in the coming weeks. Let’s take a closer look at the Lions by the numbers after their win over the Vikings.

Pro Football Focus’ premium statistics are an invaluable data point for football fans to better understand the game. Consider subscribing to PFF to have full access to a plethora of stats and grades to keep you informed about the NFL—and college football, too. Also, NFL Pro is supplying some innovative and illustrative advanced statistics of their own that are worth checking out for the price of admission.

11 defensive stops in pass coverage

In their first game without Aidan Hutchinson in the lineup, the defense was a work in progress. It was clear from the jump that Aaron Glenn was experimenting with different packages and personnel, even moving some players around into different spots: Malcolm Rodriguez played a handful of snaps as the team’s nickel corner, Levi Onwuzurike dropped into coverage as an edge defender, and Mekhi Wingo lined up exclusively at defensive end for the first time this season.

Detroit’s defense held the Vikings’ offense to just two touchdowns on the afternoon—one the result of an avalanche of momentum in the Aaron Jones’ 34-yard rushing touchdown, and the other a dot from Sam Darnold to Justin Jefferson. The linebackers were the group that really stood out on the first watch, and they all played a key factor in the Lions’ ability to—for the most part—keep the game in front of them.

The group of Alex Anzalone (5), Rodriguez (3), Trevor Nowaske (2), and Jack Campbell (1) forced 11 defensive stops in pass coverage—a “stop” is defined by Pro Football Focus as follows:

“A stop constitutes a ‘win’ for the defense or conversely a ‘loss’ for the offense. PFF describes a ‘stop’ further as an offensive gain on first down that is kept to less than 40 percent of the line to gain, less than 50 percent of the line to gain on second down and any third- or fourth-down play kept without a first down or touchdown.”

The Lions had 28 total defensive stops against the Vikings in Week 7, the most for their defense so far this season, and the linebackers led the way in run defense as well, chipping in another seven stops in that phase.

3.28/3.43 time to throw, 152.1 passer rating, etc.

Speaking of the Lions defense, the pass rush was obviously not its usual self without Hutchinson on the field. Detroit blitzed Darnold on 14 of his 35 dropbacks (40%)—the second-highest blitz rate the Lions have used this year—and it’s not a surprise Glenn made a move to try and manufacture some pressure.

Darnold’s 3.28 seconds time to throw average in Week 7 was the most time he’s had to operate on throws in a game this year, and the most time the Lions’ defense has afforded an opposing quarterback this season. The other number of note is Darnold’s average time to throw when the Lions blitzed the Vikings: 3.43, another number that sets a game-high mark for Detroit’s defense in 2024. And Darnold tore up the Lions’ blitz.

In Week 7, Darnold finished first among quarterbacks with at least four blitzed dropbacks in the following categories:

• Passer rating (152.1)
• Big-Time Throws and rate (4, 33.3%)
• Yards per attempt (14.2)

Back to the drawing board for AG and the rest of the defense.

+0.43 EPA per rush attempt

For so many weeks, the focus has been on David Montgomery’s contributions to this team. His effective, efficient, and punishing run style personifies this Lions organization under its current leadership. But when Montgomery suffered an injury and later coughed up a fumble that flipped the lead in the fourth quarter, Gibbs picked up the load and his teammate, finishing the game he started.

Gibbs hit a season-high 160 yards from scrimmage on Sunday, picking up 116 on the ground and 44 through the receiving game, and the aforementioned touchdown helped kickstart the Lions offense after a brutal start. His +0.43 EPA per rush attempt was second among running backs in Week 7, just behind Saquon Barkley (+0.45 EPA/Att).

25.0 NFL passer rating against

Even though he kicked off his rookie season off with a pick-six of Patrick Mahomes on a nationally televised primetime game, the general football-watching public is finally taking notice to the kind of player Brian Branch is—and could be.

In Week 7, of all defensive backs in football with at least two targets in coverage, Branch ranked fifth in NFL passer rating against (25.0). That number matched his best mark from Week 2 this season, when Branch also recorded an interception. The dynamo defensive back is proving to be one of the best in the entire league despite him making the transition from nickel cornerback to safety only this past summer.