Aidan Hutchinson didn’t hold back when explaining what has gone wrong for the Detroit Lions’ defense. As the season progresses, Detroit’s once-promising defense has begun to stall, and the struggles up front have become impossible to ignore.

Over the past four games, the Lions’ defensive line has generated almost no pressure, managing only four total sacks. That lack of disruption has severely limited their ability to swing momentum, and it showed again in Week 12 when Detroit failed to bring down the quarterback even once during a 31–24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Given his role as the team’s premier edge rusher, Hutchinson has been at the center of the conversation. He has recorded just 1.5 sacks in the last month and has been dealing with far more attention from opposing offenses. He explained that teams have changed how they block him, using chip blocks and extra help from interior linemen, which has made true one-on-one chances rare.

“There are chips, there are guards coming over to double you,” Hutchinson said. “Those clean one-on-one reps become really valuable when you finally get them.”

Lions rely heavily on Hutchinson as playoff pressure rises

Hutchinson also acknowledged he hasn’t fully capitalized on the limited opportunities he’s had. He knows the defense is going through a rough stretch, particularly in the pass-rush department, and admits the unit hasn’t been able to find its rhythm.

“It’s just not clicking right now,” he said. “I’m not sure why. Sometimes rushing can be a frustrating thing. Some games you just feel like nobody’s going to get a sack. We have to take a hard look at it.”

Linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard will be tasked with finding ways to manufacture more pressure—either through scheme adjustments or by identifying players who can win consistently in Detroit’s system. Hutchinson understands the current output simply isn’t good enough, and the lack of pressure has played a major role in the team’s defensive decline.

At 7–5 after the Thanksgiving loss, Detroit’s postseason hopes are still alive, but the margin for error is shrinking quickly. Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys offers a chance to regain momentum, though Hutchinson acknowledged the team expected to be in a much stronger position.

“It wasn’t what we anticipated,” he said of the recent setback. “It puts us behind where we want to be. But this is real adversity, and we have to decide how to respond. We need things to come together in all three phases, and Dallas is a big challenge to start turning that around.”

Despite the frustrations, the Lions remain in the hunt. For their season to stay on track, Hutchinson and the rest of the defensive front must elevate their play and reestablish the pressure that once made Detroit’s defense so disruptive.