If you ask Pro Football Focus, Penei Sewell was the best offensive lineman in the NFL this season, ranked No. 1 out of 223 qualified trench-men. If you ask Sewell, after the Lions went 9-8 and finished last in the NFC North, "this year alone, it wasn't my best ball."
"It was far from that," Sewell said Monday as the Lions packed up for an offseason that arrived early. "And I’m a firm believer that it starts with me up front. I believe that I’m gonna set the tone, I’m gonna make plays that typically O-linemen don’t make, so this year was definitely a down year for me and we’ll start with that. Going into next season, that will be on my mind."
That's why Sewell is a three-time captain and one of the most respected players in Detroit's locker room. Like Dan Campbell, who gave himself a "freakin' F" after the Lions missed the playoffs for the first time in three years, Sewell will point the finger at no one but himself. Truth is, they all had a hand in it, every player, coach and executive in the organization.
And while Sewell did uphold the standard on Detroit's offensive line, the unit as a whole regressed without Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler, which cost the Lions their ability to control the ball and the clock and ultimately cost them games. The group could look significantly different next season with the possible retirements of left tackle Taylor Decker and center Frank Ragnow.
The offense also missed former coordinator Ben Johnson, with Campbell taking over for John Morton as play-caller midway through the season. The results, especially on the ground, weren't much better down the stretch.
"It was just new faces and new people that came in, and I think we weren’t as connected as we were the year before and it took some time to really get a feel for one another," said Sewell. "Going into next year, that’s the thing, that connection and everyone being on point, details wise."
Behind their former offensive line, the Lions played fierce, physical football. They imposed themselves on the opposition and racked up the most wins in the NFL from 2023-2024, stacking NFC North titles. They lost touch with that version of themselves this season as their offensive line withered.
"Going into this offseason," said Sewell, "we just gotta find who we are and get our swagger back, get our confidence back, and it starts with the guys that are already here. We gotta each get better and want to get better, not only for ourselves, but for each other."