For the first time in over two years, the Detroit Lions had their projected starting five on the offensive line intact. The group laid the foundation for the offensive success in the Lions’ 21-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
The missing man in 2022 was right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed last year with a back injury. “Big V” was back and better than ever in Week 1.
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Vaitai earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Lions player in the win in Kansas City. His 88.4 grade was nearly 10 points higher than any other Detroit player. For Vaitai, it was the second-highest game grade of his career, topped only by the 2021 finale against the Packers.
Vaitai did not allow a single QB pressure on Jared Goff and also notched the highest run-blocking score by anyone on either team in the game.