Not all NFC teams are created equally. The Detroit Lions proved that on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson.
The Lions, with a pass rush helmed by Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, managed to sack Jackson seven total times en route to a victory over the Ravens on the road in Week 3. It was a rare clash between the two teams, with the AFC powerhouse Ravens not often facing off with the NFC stalwarts in the Lions.
The last time these two teams played, Baltimore absolutely dismantled Detroit 38-6. The Lions, it feels safe to say, got their revenge and then some in this 2025 bout. The win over the Ravens was huge for finally toppling the legend that is the NFC slayer in Jackson. And, it was a win in general - something the Minnesota Vikings cannot brag about in regards to the Ravens.
Again, not all NFC teams are created equally. And, in Minnesota's one meeting with Jackson, they couldn't even dream of dominating him in the same way Detroit did in this road game.
Detroit wins bragging rights over Minnesota in most roundabout way possible (but a win's a win)
The Lions' seven sacks on Jackson, in addition to the fumble forced on Derrick Henry after a punchout from Hutchinson, made for ridiculously dominant football during Monday Night Football. It was getting to a point where it felt like Jackson just couldn't bother moving anymore in the pocket, because there was bound to be a Lions defender within inches of him when he scrambled.
During that one Vikings game that Jackson played - all the way back in 2021 - he had 266 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 120 rushing yards. In summation, he was locked in. And, the Vikings had nothing for him. While that game was only separated by a field goal, it was just another notch in Jackson's longstanding trouncing of NFC teams in his career.
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Detroit managed to finally get this win, and now snatch some NFC North bragging rights in the process. It's not easy to beat Baltimore, period, but it's nearly impossible to do so as an NFC team. The Lions made it look extremely doable, so long as you have excellent pass rushing and some solid run stopping in tow.