Aidan Hutchinson had a big day in Week 1, with 11 pressures, four hits and six hurries of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (according to Pro Football Focus). Yes he only had one sack, and it came very late in regulation, but the value of pressures when sacks don't come is a conversation you won't win with those who don't see it.
Hutchinson's 47.8 percent pass rush win rate and his 94.0 grade from PFF in Week 1 is hard to ignore though.
It's fair to say when sacks come for Hutchinson, they come in bunches at times. It's a product of how relentless he is, and a product of that consistent effort. Detractors would say it'd be nice to see better consistency.
The Buccaneers are without starting right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) on Sunday. So Hutchinson is lined up for a very favorable matchup against fill-in starter Justin Skule.
Hutchinson made his presence felt early and often on Sunday.
Aidan Hutchinson delivers hat trick of sacks in first quarter on Sunday (videos)
Tampa Bay got down inside the five-yard line on the first drive of the game after a pass interference call on Lions rookie corberback Terrion Arnold. But Hutchinson shut down the threat to force the Buccaneers to settle for a short field goal.
9⃣7⃣ with the third-down sack in the red zone❗️#TBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/f1JGK0N675
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 15, 2024
Lined up wide, but across from Skule on the left edge, after a Jared Goff interception, Hutchinson took advantage of the overmatched tackle getting no help to turn momentum back toward the Lions.
Sack No. 2 on the day for @aidanhutch97 😤#TBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/kCuqIV0aUx
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 15, 2024
Before 10 minutes had elapsed in the game, Hutchinson took a straight line path to Baker Mayfield for his third sack of the game. Skule hardly touched him. FOX analyst Daryl Johnston openly called for the Buccaneers to make an adjustment in the pass protection plan. As if they shouldn't have had a better plan from the start.
Hat Trick Hutch#TBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/NCJrR802PP
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 15, 2024
In his last four regular season games, @Lions DL @aidanhutch97 has produced 9.0 sacks.
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) September 15, 2024
This marks the most sacks a player has logged in any four-game span in franchise history. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/HgibKXWHCl
Things slowed for Hutchinson in the second quarter, but he's still on a six-sack pace for the game.