Detroit Lions star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson delivered the game-winning play against the New York Giants, but the player he went up against for most of the game believes he didn’t do anything for most of the game.
Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor called out Hutchinson after New York lost 34-27 in overtime to Detroit, saying that Hutchinson’s game-ending sack of Jameis Winston was the only play he made all afternoon.
“How do I say this respectfully? He did not do a damn thing all fucking game,” Eluemunor told The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. “He strikes me as the type of guy who would try to celebrate that one play, but for most of the day, I was on an island with him, and he didn’t do anything.”
Eluemunor even tried to skirt responsibility for giving up the game-losing sack.
“Obviously, I’m pissed about the last play, but at the same time, there’s not much you can do,” he said. “They know what you’re going to do, and he still tries to give me his best move, and I run him by the quarterback, and he just manages to run back upfield and get the sack.”
Now, to Eluemunor’s credit, the Lions’ pressure on Winston did not come quickly. In fact, the Giants quarterback had the second-longest time to throw of any quarterback this week (3.22 seconds). For most of the game, New York’s pass protection held up well, and it felt like a relatively quiet day from Hutchinson.
But it’s also worth pointing out that in addition to Hutchinson’s game-winning sack, he was credited with five other quarterback hits, and also had a key tackle for loss on a run play that forced a fourth-and-goal late in regulation that resulted in a key defensive stop. NextGenStats also provided some interesting results about Hutchinson’s day, noting that he was stopped early in the game, but broke through in the fourth quarter and overtime:
Aidan Hutchinson generated 6 pressures on 17 pass rushes (35.3%) in the fourth quarter and overtime of the Lions’ Week 12 win, including the game-ending sack.
Through the first three quarters, Hutchinson had recorded just 2 pressures on 21 pass rushes (9.5%).
Even Eluemunor’s claim that he was on an island with him all game also doesn’t hold up to actual facts. Per PFF, Hutchinson lined up over the left tackle nearly 40% of the time on Sunday—and he certainly saw his fair share of chips and double teams throughout the game.
I’m sure Eluemunor believes he played a good game, and he probably did by some measures. But his post-game quotes read as sour grapes from a player who is overly frustrated after a heartbreaking loss. That’s certainly understandable, but there’s no reason to lash out at an opponent like that.
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