The Detroit Lions find themselves in a precarious position as the final month of the NFL regular season approaches. After dropping four of their last seven games, Detroit has slipped out of the NFC playoff picture and now faces an uphill climb to regain control of its postseason destiny. With five games remaining, the Lions still have a path forward—but they’ll need both improved execution and favorable outcomes elsewhere in the conference.
For defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the team’s current situation offers more than a playoff challenge. He believes the final stretch presents a defining moment for the franchise to display the core identity head coach Dan Campbell has worked tirelessly to instill: grit. While the term has become synonymous with the Lions under Campbell, Hutchinson says now is the time to prove that grit isn’t just a slogan but a standard.
Hutchinson acknowledged that maintaining toughness is far easier when wins are piling up and momentum is on your side. But with the Lions coming off a frustrating Thanksgiving loss to a divisional rival, the star pass-rusher says the next few weeks will test the team’s resilience in a way success never could. He noted that adversity often exposes a team’s true character—and this adversity is significant.
“We’ve got five games left in the regular season,” Hutchinson said. “There’s no question we’re facing adversity. We call ourselves a gritty team—it’s on the walls, it’s what people say about us. But it’s easy to be gritty when you’re winning and everything’s sunshine and rainbows. Coming off a bad loss on Thanksgiving, nobody wants that, and that’s when grit really has to show up.”
Beyond the team’s mentality, Detroit’s on-field performance will also require a turnaround. The Lions’ pass rush has struggled over the past two games, recording just one sack—Hutchinson’s game-winning takedown against the New York Giants. With the team’s margin for error shrinking, revitalizing the pressure up front will be essential as they attempt to claw back into playoff contention.
Detroit now enters a defining five-game gauntlet, both mentally and physically. For Hutchinson and the Lions, the objective is clear: respond with urgency, embrace the adversity, and show the league that the grit they preach is more than just a mantra—it’s who they truly are.
