When the NFL moved to 17 games, it ruined our ability to neatly divide the season into quarters of four-game segments. Nevertheless, we shall persist and consider Week 5 the mark of the end of the first quarter of the season.
With the Detroit Lions at 3-1 on the season, I think it’s fair to say that most fans are happy with that development. With tough-looking games against the Packers and Ravens, coming out of that group with just one loss—granted, it’s not the game most would’ve preferred to lose—is a pretty good outcome. That’s especially true when you look at how dominant the Lions looked against both the Browns and Bears.
While the team is still most defined by its high-powered offense, the defense has gotten off to a relatively strong start, too. They rank 16th in points allowed, but 12th in yards per play, fifth in DVOA, sixth in EPA/play, and second in success rate.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Who has been the Lions’ defensive MVP through the first quarter of the 2025 season?
My answer: This is something we discussed on the latest Pride of Detroit Direct mega-mailbag podcast, but I want to make it a fuller discussion here.
The easy answer here is Aidan Hutchinson. Not only does he lead the team in sacks (4.0), pressures (23), forced fumbles (2), and overall PFF grade (92.3), but he’s also a key player who draws extra attention. As one of the most double-teamed players in football, he allows players like Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyler Lacy, and Pat O’Connor to face one-on-ones for the majority of the game. A player like Hutchinson not only can be your primary playmaker, but he can free up others to make big plays—and we’ve already seen that happen, particularly against the Ravens in Week 3.
But I think there are at least two more people who deserve consideration.
The first is Jack Campbell. The third-year linebacker is really starting to make that extra step towards being an elite defender. His play recognition and run defense have been outstanding this year. He leads the team with 37 tackles, ranks fourth among NFL linebackers in PFF run defense grade (91.1), and is second in defensive stops (18)—which is defined as plays that result in offensive “failures.” He’s also starting to make the splash plays necessary to get national attention as one of the league’s best linebackers.
I would also consider D.J. Reed for this recognition. While the Lions’ pass defense has struggled through four games, he’s been a big bright spot in the secondary. He essentially erased Zay Flowers in Week 3, and he made a couple of huge plays against the Browns before leaving with his hamstring injury. Per PFF, Reed allowed just a 61.3 passer rating when targeted—ceding 11 catches on 18 targets for 136 yards and an interception. Without a doubt, he’s going to be missed during his stint on injured reserve.
Which Lions defender do you think has been the defensive MVP so far? Share your answer in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
