Lions pass protection: Breaking down the decline from '24 to '25

With a 7-5 record following Thursday's Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Lions have fallen back in the NFC playoff picture. One of the biggest reasons--among several--for the regression from 2024's spectacular 15-2 record to being in need of help to make the postseason this year is the pass protection.

It's not been good, to be blunt. A quick look at the team's Pro Football Focus grades across team metrics displays just how much the protection in front of quarterback Jared Goff has downgraded.

After the Week 13 loss, a game in which Goff was sacked three times and faced 10 measured pressures according to PFF, the team's cumulative season pass blocking grade is 61.3. That ranks 23rd in the league, taking into account that several teams haven't yet had grades factored in for Week 13 games.

In 2024, the Lions posted a season pass blocking grade of 68.4, which ranked 18th. However, going back to Week 13 of the 2024 season, Detroit's line fell to 23rd over the final few weeks of last year's grades. Even with Frank Ragnow at center flanked (primarily) by vets Graham Glasgow at left guard and Kevin Zeitler on the right, the pass protection fell off late last season.

It has not rebounded with Glasgow serving as the primary center, with rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard and second-year Christian Mahogany on the left when the unit is fully healthy. Mahogany, who started Week 16 a year ago, has been out since suffering a broken leg in Week 9.

He's been replaced by Kayode Awosika, who has earned a pass protection score of 51.5 in five games, allowing three credited sacks. Awosika's pass blocking grade is actually higher than Mahogany's 46.9 and Ratledge's 46.1, though each of the regular starting guards has allowed just two sacks. Glasgow has earned a 59.8 grade in pass blocking, which represents his highest season score since returning to Detroit in 2023.

Grades and ranks

Left tackle Taylor Decker: 68.5 (35th of 61 total tackles)

In 2024: 78.0 (22nd of 57)

Left guard Christian Mahogany: 46.9 (52nd of 59 total guards)

In 2024, Glasgow as primary LG: 49.8 (54th of 58)

Center Graham Glasgow: 59.8 (19th of 29 centers)

In 2024, Ragnow as primary C: 65.8 (11th of 28)

Right guard Tate Ratledge: 46.1 (53rd of 59)

In 2024, Zeitler as primary RG: 70.7 (18th of 58)

Right tackle Penei Sewell: 77.5 (14th of 61)

In 2024: 74.5 (25th of 57)

More: What's next for the Detroit Lions after the Frank Ragnow setback?

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions pass protection: Breaking down the decline from '24 to '25