As the Detroit Lions get ready for a big 2024 season, star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson recently spoke about the hype surrounding the team.
It was an amazing 2023 season for the Lions, as they exceeded almost everyone’s expectations. The Lions have had a long history of losing as a franchise, but 2023 was very different, as they won the NFC North and then made the NFC Championship Game.
In the NFC Championship Game, the Lions might have disappointed against the San Francisco 49ers, but having a lead and nearly winning was a major accomplishment for the franchise.
However, with success now comes expectations and pressure.
The Lions are one of the favorites in the NFC this coming season and nobody will be taking them lightly. Recently, Aidan Hutchinson spoke about the pressure on the Lions and the hype surrounding the team.
“It’s unreal. There’s a lot of hype coming into this year, but I think it’s well-deserved hype,” Hutchinson said, via Woodyard. “I think a lot more guys on our team understand what this year is, and we understand what we got, and we’re all ready.”
“I think everyone has put everything into this upcoming year, and I feel like for the years to come as well, because it’s not our last year we’re all playing,” Hutchinson said. “There’s a lot of great players on this team, and I think we could just have repeated success over the next few years.”
Can the Lions dethrone the 49ers in the NFC?
After going 12-5 and nearly winning the NFC Title, the Lions are very aware of how close they were to something truly special last season.
Fortunately for the Lions, they are a well-coached team with much of the core from last season coming back. Dan Campbell is quickly becoming one of the top coaches in the game, and he will certainly have his team focused and motivated with an eye on the prize.
Hutchinson will be asked to lead a defense that did improve quite a bit last season but could need to be a bit better in 2024 to get to the Super Bowl.
As we saw last season, the 49ers are going to be the team to beat in the NFC until someone proves otherwise. While the Lions and the Packers both gave the 49ers a run for their money in the playoffs last year, the 49ers ultimately prevailed.
With some playoff experience on the team now, the Lions should be excited for the opportunity to finish what they started last year.