We graded every Lions player from the Jets game using a new grading method we created — here are the results

M.O.O.N. stands for Measure of On-Field Net-Impact, a 50-point system designed to measure how much each Lions player actually helped or hurt Detroit in a game.

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs into the end zone for touchdown against New York Jets during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If you’ve followed me long enough, you know that during the 2023 playoffs, I became the Moon Man in the Detroit Lions world. It’s super niche, but it’s fun to try to predict games based on lunar phases.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been working to make my own grading system that I can use after games, and I finally have it right. Even though the grades have nothing to do with the moon, I’ve named them the M.O.O.N. Grades. That stands for Measure of On-Field Net-Impact. Here’s how it all works:

How M.O.O.N. Grades work

Measure of On-Field Net-Impact · 0 to 50

M.O.O.N. stands for Measure of On-Field Net-Impact. Here’s the deal: the grade measures what a player did to help or hurt the Lions in that game. Offensive and defensive players start at 25. Impact plays add points; mistakes and plays allowed subtract them. An explosive gain is worth 3, a first down 2 and a touchdown 6. On defense, sacks, takeaways, pass breakups, pressures and tackles add points. Turnovers, penalties, pressures allowed, missed tackles and plays allowed take points away.

Playing time matters, too. The grade tops out at 50, and the snap count sets a ceiling based on the player’s role. Eight great snaps can earn a strong grade for a small role, but they won’t earn a perfect 50. The grade is the lower of the impact total and the snap ceiling. Any negative play keeps a player from getting a perfect 50.

Offensive linemen have their own scale because good blocking needs to earn points, too. They start at 25. Their PFF pass-block and run-block grades each add points: 60–64.9 earns 2, 65–69.9 earns 4, 70–74.9 earns 6, 75–79.9 earns 8, 80–84.9 earns 10, and 85 or better earns 12. A grade from 55 to 59.9 adds nothing; below 55 subtracts 2 to 7 points. If a lineman has at least 20 pass-block snaps and allows no pressure or sack, that adds another 4. A pancake adds 2. Other pressures allowed cost 2 each, sacks allowed cost 5 and penalties cost 3. Take Blake Miller this week: his 78.6 pass-block grade earns 8 points. His 59.8 run-block grade is below the 60-point bonus threshold, so it earns zero points. Two pressures allowed cost 4 and a penalty costs 3. His total is 25 + 8 − 4 − 3 = 26 out of 50. A run-block grade below 55 would subtract points; 59.8 simply adds none. The snap ceiling also keeps a short appearance from earning a perfect grade.

Quarterbacks have their own scale. They start at 20 and are scored on completion percentage, passer rating, passing-yard milestones, passing touchdowns, big-time throws, turnovers and pressure-to-sack rate. The completion bonus reaches 6 points at 75%; the passer-rating bonus reaches 8 at 130. Passing yards earn 2 points at 100, then 3 more at each 200, 300, 400 and 500. Each passing touchdown adds 4; each rushing touchdown adds a 2-point bonus. Interceptions cost 7, fumbles and turnover-worthy plays cost 5 each, and a high pressure-to-sack rate subtracts 2 to 9. First downs and explosive plays are counted in the QB’s passing production, so they aren’t added again to his grade.

Ok, so without further ado, here are the first-ever M.O.O.N. grades for the Lions vs. the New York Jets. You can click on each player, and it will explain their grade. We’ll also go over a select group of players every week.

Offense

Lions Offense M.O.O.N. Grades

Measure of On-Field Net-Impact · Lions vs New York Jets · Sep 27, 2026

PlayerPos.SnapsGrade
Jahmyr GibbsRB4549/50
Penei SewellLT6548/50
Christian MahoganyLG6545/50
Jared GoffQB6543/50
Amon-Ra St. BrownWR4838/50
Isaac TeSlaaWR3135.5/50
Juice ScruggsC6535/50
Tate RatledgeRG6535/50
Jameson WilliamsWR5334/50
Sione VakiRB2032.5/50
Sam LaPortaTE6031.5/50
Larry BoromOL1531/50
Blake MillerRT6526/50
Jackson MeeksWR1025.5/50
Brock WrightTE3825/50
Jacob SaylorsRB225/50

Tap a player to see the grade breakdown. M.O.O.N. Grades combine impact plays, charted performance and playing time on a 50-point scale.

A strong day for the Lions’ offense and impact plays. Gibbs nearly hit a perfect 50 on the day with two explosive plays, eight first downs, three touchdowns, and 16 carries for a gain, to be exact. He’s kept from a perfect 50 because he lost yards on two plays and allowed two sacks.

On the offensive line side of things, Sewell had a near-perfect day as well, with 10 points for his pass blocking and 10 points for positive run blocking too. He allowed zero pressures and no sacks. The drawback was a holding penalty.

Then we get to Jared Goff. He positively checked every single box he needed to check, but an 18.2% pressure-to-sack metric took two points away from him. He also did not have any big-time throws and fell short of some of the passing marks, like 300 yards, for example. Let me just tell you now, a quarterback hitting 50 is pretty hard.

I’m sure there will be some concerns about Blake Miller. Ultimately, he earned eight points for his pass blocking, but his run blocking was rough in this one, and he did not earn any points for it. He got a negative four points for allowing two pressures and then another negative three points for committing a penalty. Otherwise, it was a fine day.

Defense

Lions Defense M.O.O.N. Grades

Measure of On-Field Net-Impact · Lions vs New York Jets · Sep 27, 2026

PlayerPos.SnapsGrade
Alim McNeillDL4844/50
Aidan HutchinsonDE6438/50
Chuck ClarkS6636/50
D.J. Wonnum—4436/50
Christian IzienDB6435/50
Skyler Gill-HowardDL3334.5/50
Tyleik WilliamsDL3029/50
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.CB2327.5/50
Derrick BarnesLB5725.5/50
Tyler LacyDL1925/50
Eric O'NeillDE125/50
Levi OnwuzurikeDL1125/50
Derrick MooreDE924/50
Trevor NowaskeLB3323/50
Jack CampbellLB6622/50
Rock Ya-SinCB1322/50
Malcolm RodriguezLB1919/50
D.J. ReedCB6213.5/50
Roger McCrearyCB6410.5/50

Tap a player to see the grade breakdown. M.O.O.N. Grades combine impact plays, charted performance and playing time on a 50-point scale.

A really good day for Alim McNeill. he earned 19 points for his six pressures and one sack. He had no negative points in this one. That’s pretty good considering a good handful of players did.

Like D.J. Reed. He earned nine points, but also earned a -21 points for two defensive pass interference penalties, allowing one explosive play and allowing a touchdown. It was not his best day at all.

You might notice Roger McCreary had the worst grade among everyone. It’s because missing a tackle loses you three points, committing a penalty loses you three points, allowing a touchdown loses you six points, and allowing an explosive play loses you five. The grades can kick you around if you have a bad day. But it’s all about impact, and if you’re making an impact in a bad way, you’re going to get a bad grade.

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