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Offensive Line Trio Powers Detroit Lions' Success

The Detroit Lions’ success through the first half of the 2024 NFL season is a collective effort. They have a vastly improved defense and a highly talented offense with players like Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the running back tandem of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. However, their elite offensive line also deserves credit for their 9-1 record.

As Pro Football Focus revealed, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell, and Kevin Zeitler are among the top players in their position. Ragnow’s 90.5 overall grade is second among centers, while Sewell’s 88.4 is third among offensive tackles. Zeitler’s 87.8 is second among guards, and Taylor Decker’s 70.9 puts him in the upper half of ranked tackles.

While it took a while before Detroit assembled this imposing offensive line, they are all first-round draft picks. The Cincinnati Bengals took Zeitler in 2012 and signed with the Lions, his fifth NFL team, this offseason. In contrast, Decker (since 2016), Ragnow (since 2018), and Sewell (since 2021) have played only for the Lions.

As a unit, they are a significant factor for a Lions offense that ranks third in total yards (394.7), sixth in passing yards (242.5), third in rushing yards (152.2), and first in points (33.6) per game this season.

With the competition getting more challenging over their final seven regular season games, the dominance of Detroit’s top-ranked offensive line could be the advantage that can propel them to another postseason berth.

-Lance Fernandez

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