The Detroit Lions are in the midst of a much-needed bye week. The additional rest should help the banged-up defensive unit get healthy before the second half of the season, with the first matchup taking place against the Minnesota Vikings, followed by the trade deadline's arrival, where general manager Brad Holmes will have a chance to add reinforcements.
For the Lions' defense that has been exceeding expectations all season, Week 9 will be a great way to make a statement and silence all trade discussions. It also presents an especially juicy opportunity for standout pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad to continue his hot start,
The pass rush rotation was considered to be a weakness for the Lions before the season. The front office was criticized for not acting with a sense of urgency to pair Aidan Hutchinson with another high-level EDGE defender. Yet, so far, the Lions have one of the best pass-rushing units in the league, and a lot of that credit goes to Muhammad.
Going up against the Vikings in Week 9, Muhammad can prove once and for all that the Lions don't need much else in the pass rush rotation. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday (h/t @SeanBormanNFL) that Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy should be back against the Lions after a likely fifth straight absence in Week 8. Not only does this give Muhammad a chance to get one over the NFC North rivals, but it is also a favorable matchup.
All Signs Point to Al-Quadin Muhammad Having a Monster Game in Week 9
The 30-year-old has five sacks, four tackles for loss, and 10 QB hits in seven games, receiving an 81.0 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking as the 17th-best player of 113 at his position. Yet, the GM Holmes is still looking for upgrades at the trade deadline, as The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported last week.
In his first two NFL games from earlier this season, McCarthy was sacked a whopping nine times. For a player who attempted a total of 41 passes in those two games, that is a shockingly high number. He also had three fumbles and three interceptions. The more concerning part of this is that, if you are a Vikings fan, these blunders came against middling pass-rushing units. The Atlanta Falcons rank 15th and the Chicago Bears 25th in PFF's pass rush grades for the season.
The Lions, on the other hand, are a top-three unit and should be feasting against McCarthy and the Vikings.
What better way to welcome McCarthy to Ford Field in his first game against the Lions than a sack fest? Muhammad should have a big role there and cement his status as one of the most important members of this defense.