The Detroit Lions dropped a tough one at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Lions lost 20-16 despite the best efforts of Aidan Hutchinson.
The third-year defensive end racked up 4.5 sacks in the loss, dominating with his pass rush. Hutchinson had an amazing game, as did the Lions defense for the most part. Detroit held Tampa Bay to 14 first downs and 216 total yards.
It’s a frustrating outcome for the Lions, no doubt. But it’s not a death blow for the team’s lofty hopes for 2024. Hutchinson offered up some pretty sage perspective about it after the game.
“Yeah, I mean, it sucks, but I was just talking to some guys. I think this is going to be good for us,” Hutchinson said in his postgame presser. “We lost last year (in Week 2) too. I remember we lost to Seattle and everybody thought we sucked again. I think we’re going to keep this one in perspective and if we’re going to struggle a little bit as a team, I think I’d rather struggle early.”
Indeed, the Lions did lose in Week 2 last year to the Seahawks in Ford Field, a game that followed up Detroit’s road win over the reigning champion Chiefs in Kansas City in Week 1. Jared Goff threw a pick-six in that game, while David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown each gave away fumbles in a 37-31 overtime loss to Seattle.
Last season, Hutchinson and the Lions followed that 1-1 start with four straight wins, including a 20-9 suffocation of Atlanta in Week 3. They’ve been here before, as Hutchinson well knows, and they understand how to move forward from a tough loss.
