The Detroit Lions haven’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations placed on them before the season began. Sitting at 6–4 and slipping to third in the NFC North, the team is far from the league-leading pace many analysts predicted. After dropping a 16–9 game to the Eagles, ESPN bumped Detroit from No. 6 to No. 8 in its Week 12 power rankings, giving critics even more ammunition.

Still, despite the outside noise, the Lions insist they’re far from out of the race. And if anyone isn’t rattled, it’s star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

Meeting with reporters this week, Hutchinson made it clear he’s unfazed by the skepticism.

> “We’re 6–4 right now. I think people have counted us out a bit, and honestly, I think that puts us in a great position,” he said. “We’ve got three straight home games coming up, and we need to sweep them. It all starts with New York on Sunday.”

Lions to Debut All-Black “Motor City Muscle” Look

When Detroit hosts the New York Giants, they’ll do so in a fresh look. The team announced on November 18 that they’ll take the field in their all-black Motor City Muscle uniforms, a sleek design featuring a black base accented with the signature Honolulu blue. Fans reacted strongly on social media, with some predicting a winning streak and others wishing the alternate uniforms were saved for bigger matchups like the Cowboys or Steelers.

Where Detroit Stands Now

As the Lions prepare for the Giants, ESPN highlighted offensive coordinator John Morton as the staff member under the most pressure. Eric Woodyard noted that Morton was relieved of play-calling duties after the Week 9 loss to Minnesota and now faces an uphill battle to secure his future with the team.

Last season, Detroit led the league with 33.2 points per game under former OC Ben Johnson—now the Bears’ head coach—leaving Morton with big shoes to fill. Head coach Dan Campbell will handle play-calling for the foreseeable future. That shift shouldn’t be an issue against a depleted Giants squad, but tougher challenges are looming.

Still, with a favorable stretch of home games ahead and a fan-favorite alternate uniform on deck, Ford Field should be electric—and the Lions remain determined to prove the doubters wrong.