A new analysis reveals that one particular NFL player has consistently been the biggest challenge for the Detroit Lions every time they face off.
The Detroit Lions have had a string of strong seasons recently, but some games have been especially painful. A standout example is last season’s first playoff matchup, where the Lions were soundly defeated by the Washington Commanders, 45-31. That crushing loss ended their hopes of finally reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in team history.
Another devastating blow came with the Lions’ defeat against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game of the 2023-24 season. Detroit was on the verge of making it to the Super Bowl, only to be overtaken by a massive 49ers comeback that shocked fans.
Now, a recent analysis has identified a key player on the 49ers who appears to be Detroit’s biggest problem when they meet on the field.
In a June 4 article for PFF, writer Dalton Wasserman examined the Achilles’ heel of each NFL team based on recent years. The feature highlights the highest-rated player, whether on offense or defense, against every team from the last five seasons.
Wasserman explains that to be considered, players had to log a minimum of 100 snaps against a given team, which typically equates to playing in at least two different games against that team.
The study is eye-opening, as it reveals the most effective player against each team. Some results were unexpected—especially the pick for Detroit’s toughest individual opponent.
According to Wasserman, 49ers lineman Trent Williams has delivered the strongest performances against Detroit compared to all others.
“Williams earns another mention here, this time for how he’s dominated Detroit,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s played them twice in the last four years and recorded an elite PFF grade over 90.0 both times.”
Wasserman continued, “As usual with Williams, his biggest impact came in the running game. He notched an outstanding 92.6 run-blocking grade over those two matchups.”
Williams is under a three-year, $82 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers, and clearly, he’s proving his worth on the field.
Detroit still has plenty of reasons to be hopeful heading into 2025. In another PFF article from June 10, Wasserman shared one reason for optimism for each team going into the new season. “Every NFL team starts 2025 fresh — no wins, no losses,” he noted. “Of course, those records will change quickly, but every fan base has hope right now.”
These optimistic points generally focus on impactful players. As for the Lions, Wasserman highlighted one standout in particular as the symbol of renewed hope.
The player is Aidan Hutchinson, who even appears in the article’s header image. His return is expected to be a game-changer for the team.
“Hutchinson’s absence was a major factor in the Lions’ reduced pass-rush effectiveness late in the season. If he bounces back to form, he can completely reshape their defensive success,” Wasserman explained.
