Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson talks chasing the Super Bowl, NFC North and more in interview with B/R | News, results, highlights, stats and gossip

But he looks set to take another step forward in his third season, posting an NFL-best 6.5 sacks in four games despite constantly facing double teams and being the center of attention in opponents’ offensive schemes.

Of course, the main reason he leads the league in sacks early in his career was his otherworldly performance in the Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he sacked Baker Mayfield 4.5 times.

“It was fun,” Hutchinson said of being in the zone during this competition. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a flow state where you feel like no matter what you do, the quarterback is just going to fall into your arms. That’s what it feels like.

“It’s extremely interesting to be a leader in this league. You can play a game with zero sacks and the next game you have zero sacks. When you have your chances, you just have to take them. Some games have more opportunities than others, but you have to stay consistent with your mindset.”

The more sacks Hutchinson receives with his consistent approach, the more likely it is that the Lions will bounce back from the disappointment of being so close to the Lombardi Trophy.

Last season was a milestone for Detroit, which won the league title for the first time since the 1993 season and also won a playoff game for the first time since the 1991 season. That playoff game was a dramatic 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams and former quarterback Matthew Stafford, and Lions fans created one of the most memorable atmospheres of the season.

The team then gained momentum and won the divisional round against the Buccaneers and had a 24-7 halftime lead in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.

If Detroit had finished this game the way it started, it would have made it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. However, San Francisco came back like a storm and won 34-31, shattering the organization’s realistic dreams.

These dreams are still valid.

Many of the same songs return on Hutchinson, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and expectations are as high as ever. That’s especially true after a 3-1 start that included Monday’s victory over the previously undefeated Seattle Seahawks in a potential playoff preview.

“I think we’re very aware that we fell short a little bit,” Hutchinson said, discussing using the end of last season as motivation in 2024. “I think this year all the guys put their hearts and souls into it. I will do everything in my power to get back there, come out of this match and get the best result we can achieve. “

While fighting for the first Super Bowl on the field, Hutchinson also formed a partnership with State Farm off the field.

He starred in a commercial for an insurance company called “Ballet Class” with Jake from State Farm, which focused on bundling a personal rate plan much like packages with stars on the field.

“It’s an incredibly easy partnership with State Farm,” he said. “The whole thing was amazing. They wanted to draw attention to the unexpected combination of a house and a car. I think it was very easy to work with me because when I’m on the pitch, I combine dancing and football.

“When I’m on the field, I’ll go out on the field and do a spin move to sack the quarterback, and when I get up, I can do a dance move, running to the sideline. Just like State Farm combines home and car, I combine football and dance.”

The plan is for the Lions to dance their way to a second straight NFC North crown, although they are in the unusual position of being the team everyone is gunning for after last season’s success.

And they’re being chased by arguably the best division in football, as no team in the NFC North is below .500.

The Minnesota Vikings are off to a 4-0 start and Sam Darnold is thriving with plenty of weapons around him, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones. The future is also quite bright for the 2-2 Chicago Bears with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams surrounded by plenty of offensive talent like DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift.

The Green Bay Packers will always be a tough opponent, having made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. They struggled early in the season with Jordan Love dealing with an injury, but as the season progresses they seem to be a threat.

“What I know is a competitive division,” Hutchinson said. “You didn’t really expect the Vikings this year. The Vikings came out of nowhere after JJ (McCarthy) was injured. But now they are giving it their all. This offense is cooking. It’s going to be a fun and close race for Honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

If nothing else, this division will prepare the Lions for the physical toll of the playoffs.

Especially since they want to take the next step and lift the Lombardi Trophy.