Alim McNeill Is Back: Lions Defensive Line Shines in Win Over Cardinals

After a dominant 45–21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the Detroit Lions enter their bye week at 3–2, tied with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings remain atop the NFC North with a perfect 5–0 record.

Detroit’s defense has struggled with consistency throughout the opening weeks of the season, but the performance against Arizona was a step in the right direction. The defensive line, in particular, showed encouraging signs, generating pressure and making life difficult for the Cardinals’ offense.

With the bye week approaching, let’s break down the two standout defensive linemen from Detroit’s Week 5 victory based on their PFF grades.

1. Alim McNeill — 81.1

Alim McNeill looks fully back to his old self and was an absolute game wrecker on Sunday. He recorded three total pressures, including one sack, one quarterback hit and one hurry, along with one pass breakup and two defensive stops.

McNeill earned the highest overall defensive grade on the team at 81.1. He also posted the best run defense grade among Detroit’s defensive linemen, along with a 69.8 tackling grade and a 71.3 pass-rushing grade.

His continued improvement is encouraging news for Detroit, as the defensive tackle appears to be regaining his disruptive presence in the middle of the defensive line. McNeill currently owns the ninth-highest PFF grade among all interior defensive linemen.

If he can maintain this level of play, Detroit’s defensive front will become increasingly difficult for opposing offenses to handle.

2. D.J. Wonnum — 69.6

D.J. Wonnum has been on an absolute tear this season, recording five sacks, including three over his last three games. He has recorded at least one sack in each of those three contests, establishing a new career high for consecutive games with a sack.

Wonnum finished the Cardinals game with a 69.6 overall defensive grade, a 59.9 run defense grade, a 72.3 tackling grade and a 67.4 pass-rushing grade.

He also recorded 23 quarterback pressures on the season, along with two sacks, one quarterback hit and two defensive stops against Arizona.

Wonnum is currently tied for the fourth-most sacks in the NFL and leads the Lions in that category. His ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks has been one of the bright spots for Detroit’s defensive front.

Although his overall grade against Arizona was lower than McNeill’s, Wonnum’s production as a pass rusher remains a valuable asset for the Lions.

Detroit’s Defensive Front Shows Signs of Progress

McNeill and Wonnum weren’t the only reasons for optimism against Arizona. Detroit’s defensive front showed improvement after struggling to consistently disrupt opposing offenses earlier in the season.

The Lions still need to prove they can replicate this performance against stronger competition, but the combination of McNeill’s resurgence and Wonnum’s pass-rushing production gives the team something to build on.

Detroit also has an opportunity to get healthier during the bye week, potentially strengthening the defense as players work their way back from injuries.

The Lions have plenty of work ahead if they want to compete for the NFC North title, but a more productive defensive line would go a long way toward getting them back on track.