It was a big week for the Detroit Lions offense and its fanbase. Fresh off a 22-point win over the Washington Commanders, the Lions look to further cement themselves as Super Bowl threats when they travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, in what will be one of this year's biggest regular-season showdowns.
But while the Lions' outlook is on the rise, some concerns persist — especially when it comes to the Aidan Hutchinson-led pass rush.
The Commanders' Marcus Mariota isn't a quarterback who can beat good teams consistently; he's a backup for a reason. A solid backup, sure, but a backup all the same. The Lions' front four should've bullied him for all four quarters. After all, the Commanders are one of the worst pass-blocking teams in the league, tied for the ninth-most sacks allowed (26) as of Week 11.
So you'd think a team led by Hutchinson would have four, five, or six sacks. You'd think they'd be a team that ate all day and came back for seconds. Instead, the only guy who got any real traction on the Commanders quarterback was safety Brian Branch, who had 1.5 sacks. Which is great, until you remember his position, which means he only got those off of blitzes, a solid idea for any defense that can't generate pressure without stunts.
The Lions' pass rush shouldn't be as big an issue as it is. They should be a powerhouse whose best player never goes a game without making a sizeable impact on defense. Except that's exactly what happened, as Hutchinson put up a stat line full of goose eggs other than two pressures and a pass break-up. No sacks, no tackles, no real impact. He tried, nearly had his hand on the ball a few times, but he came up lacking.
Additionally, his 25.7 tackling, 61.0 pass rush, and 53.2 defense grades were each his lowest Pro Football Focus marks of the 2025 season.
Aidan Hutchinson Can't Pass Rush Alone
Considering his massive $180 million contract, Hutchinson needs to find ways to do his job, which simultaneously highlights that the defensive line needs help. Especially at the edges. The interior isn't great, but the edges appear to be all feast or famine when Hutchinson isn't on his game. That's going to be an issue deeper into the season, especially against other teams like the Eagles.
The Lions are fourth in the NFL with 30.0 sacks, but it's not an honest number. Hutchinson, defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, and linebackers Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes all have at least four sacks, and the numbers slowly dip from there.
Besides, Muhammed, who has six on the season, got half of them in a two-game stretch to start the year and has just 1.5 in his last three games. Campbell and Barnes have been getting more sacks the last four or five games, but those are sacks of opportunity. Not willed forth like we see from guys like Hutchinson, who's tallied at least one sack in six of his nine appearances so far.
When the team blitzes, it can create sacks, but if the team doesn't, it seems like the Lions just don't have the firepower on the edges to get the job done. This isn't a team that can rely too heavily on the blitz either, as their cornerbacks just aren't having a great year. When you blitz, you take away potential help in coverage. It's a gamble and one that's worked out well for the Lions so far, but it's not something the team can over-rely on, especially against better quarterbacks.
The Lions need to manufacture more pressure from their front four, or this defense will struggle in come playoffs. Whether that means bolstering certain players' playing time or trying new tactics, something has to give before the season reaches crunch time.