Aidan Hutchinson: “It’s All Must-Win Now” as Lions Push Toward Playoffs
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - With three games left in the regular season, Aidan Hutchinson isn’t mincing words: the Detroit Lions are in playoff mode right now.
“It’s there in front of you,” Hutchinson said this week. “Three games to go.
We’ve been talking about kind of must-wins. It’s basically all must-win.
Got to finish out strong.”
That urgency isn’t just talk-it’s reality. The Lions have had their share of highs and lows this season, and Hutchinson knows they can’t afford any more stumbles if they want to be playing football in January.
“It’s been definitely a little bit up and down,” he admitted. “Great wins, and we have a tough loss. We just got to string these last three together to give ourselves a chance.”
That sense of resolve is exactly what head coach Dan Campbell has been preaching, especially with a physical opponent up next. Campbell called it “bully ball,” and Hutchinson echoed that sentiment, knowing full well what kind of game this will be.
“I think we have to [match that style] if we’re going to compete and try to win the game,” Hutchinson said. He expects the Steelers to come in and try to impose their will on the ground, which means the Lions’ front seven has to be ready for a slugfest.
And while the matchup will be physical, it’s also personal for Hutchinson. The former Michigan star has gone up against Aaron Rodgers before-and he’s not backing down from the challenge.
“I’d love it if he threw me another one. That’d be great,” Hutchinson said with a grin.
“He’s a competitor, man, and he’s been doing it at a high level for a long time. We all have a ton of respect for him.”
Rodgers, known for his quick release and pocket awareness, presents a unique challenge for pass rushers. But Hutchinson isn’t rattled. He knows the key is staying locked in.
“You don’t get frustrated,” he said. “Just keep rushing, and eventually you’ll get home.”
When it comes to defending the Steelers’ offensive versatility-especially with players like Kenneth Gainwell moving all over the formation-Hutchinson says that’s more on the linebackers and secondary. His job on the edge stays the same: set the edge, contain the run, and get after the quarterback.
Still, the Lions’ run defense has shown some cracks lately, and Hutchinson knows that has to change if they want to close out the season strong.
“We’ve been doing it all year. We just got to do it again,” he said.
He pointed to breakdowns in execution as the main culprit for recent lapses, not anything the opponent was doing schematically.
“We believe that we can fix it in our rooms and move forward,” Hutchinson explained. When asked what he meant by “self-inflicted,” he clarified: it’s about putting themselves in the right position-mentally and physically-to make plays.
That’s the mindset of a team that knows what’s at stake. The Lions don’t need help from the outside. They just need to handle their own business.
And that starts this Sunday at 4:25 p.m., when Hutchinson and the Lions host Rodgers and the Steelers in a game that feels like a playoff matchup before the playoffs even begin.
For Hutchinson, it’s simple: finish strong, or the season finishes early.