By Sunday 
“They don’t even know the scheme” — Detroit’s stars call out the analytics site everyone loves to quote
If you’ve ever scrolled through social media and seen fans arguing over a player’s PFF grade, you’re not alone. But according to the Detroit Lions, those numbers might not mean as much as people think.
In fact, some players are calling the whole thing out as — well — kind of nonsense.
“They Don’t Even Know What Plays Are Being Called”
Cornerback Terrion Arnold didn’t hold back when asked about Pro Football Focus and their controversial rating system.
“I stopped checking when there was a play where I was in Cover 2 and it said I was actually in man-to-man,” Arnold said, according to Lions OnSI. “They don’t really know the scheme. Then I saw another one where I supposedly gave up a touchdown — but I wasn’t even the guy in coverage.”
His frustration isn’t unique. Around the Lions locker room, the sentiment seems unanimous: PFF doesn’t have the full picture.
Amik Robertson: “PFF Is Just Guys Who Never Played the Game”
Cornerback Amik Robertson shared a similar story — one rooted in experience and a bit of exasperation.
“PFF is just guys who never played the game,” Robertson said. “They don’t even know what defense we’re in. I don’t care about rankings. The eye in the sky don’t lie.”
That last line — “The eye in the sky don’t lie” — might just be the perfect mic drop moment.
Grant Stuard Keeps It Chill — But He Agrees
While some players vented, linebacker Grant Stuard took a lighter approach. He says he still checks PFF — but only for one thing: how many snaps he played.
“I can understand why fans look at it,” Stuard admitted. “But they don’t really know what we’re running. Nobody does but us.”
And there it is — the core of the problem. Fans see numbers. Players live the details.
The Real Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it’s not that the Lions hate analytics — they just want context. Football isn’t played in a spreadsheet, and a “bad grade” might just mean the grader didn’t know the assignment.
So next time you see someone throwing around a PFF stat like gospel, just remember what Detroit’s defenders are saying:
“The eye in the sky don’t lie.”