Packers-Lions Key Matchup: Packers' OL vs. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Will Aidan Hutchinson wreak havoc against Packers?

Big-time players make big-time plays, and Aidan Hutchinson did just that a week ago against the Chicago Bears. 

On the Bears’ final drive of the game, the second-year EDGE recorded a strip-sack of Chicago passer Justin Fields. The loose ball eventually trickled all the way to the Bears’ end zone, resulting in the game-sealing safety for Hutchinson and the Lions. 

It took Hutchinson the entire game to get home against Fields. But, to the former Michigan defender's credit, he delivered the sack when it mattered most. 

His takedown of Fields in the final seconds of Week 11 marked Hutchinson's first sack since Week 5 against the Panthers. At that point in early October, it was his third game in a row with a sack. 

However, after his takedown of Carolina signal-caller Bryce Young, he went four straight games without recording a single QB takedown. 

So, will Hutchinson make it two consecutive games with a sack, on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers? 

At the very least, the Michigan native has a good track record against Detroit's divisional rivals from Green Bay. He's recorded a career-best 3.5 total sacks in three games against the Packers. And, he amassed 1.5 of those sacks, along with three QB hits, in the Lions’ Week 4 win earlier this season at Lambeau Field. 

On Thursday, he'll face a Green Bay offensive line that has surrendered just 22 sacks, tied for the seventh-fewest sacks allowed. In this Week 12 divisional matchup, he'll do most of his work against Packers right tackle Zach Tom.  

In 405 pass-blocking snaps this season, Tom has permitted just one sack and two total QB hits. And, along the way, he's earned a respectable 74.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. He's also graded out as the 11th-best overall offensive tackle (78.8). 

Best Bet: Jameson Williams Electrifies Ford Field on Thanksgiving

Despite Tom's solid start to the season, it doesn't mean that the Packers won't be challenged by Hutchinson's pass-rushing prowess.

“He plays with great effort. He's obviously got all the tools that good defensive ends have, where he's got the length, he has the explosiveness,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Hutchinson. “But, the guys that are really good, play really hard all the time. We've played a few of those guys this year, like the T.J. Watts, the Maxx Crosbys, the Hutchinsons, where their effort is relentless every single play, and that's how he plays. No matter what, you're going to get his best. So, we better come ready to go.”

I'm going kind of bold with my prediction for Hutchinson this week. I'm predicting that the second-year pro will record another two sacks against the Packers, in front of a raucous, sold-out Ford Field crowd Thursday.