What They're Saying: Hutchinson 'Disgusted' About Critical Mistake
Here is a collection of quotes from Detroit Lions players and coaches during their media availability following a 28-13 loss to the Chicago Bears.
On the struggles in third quarters this season: "We just, we haven't been able to get going. We've done a lot of different things, we've changed what we're running, how we're gonna run it, what we're doing, who we're trying to get the ball to and we fizzled out there. But we've always been able to get it going by late third or early fourth, we've traditionally been a good first quarter, fourth quarter team. I would much rather be a good fourth quarter team than third quarter team but that didn't show up today. So yeah, I mean, look, we've certainly got to be better. That would've helped us today. You're up three, third quarter, you've got the ball, you've got a chance to really put a lot of pressure on them. We thought we were gonna be able to do that, and we couldn't do it."
His confidence in the team rebounding from the loss: "A ton of confidence that we're gonna clean it up. A little adversity isn't the worst thing in the world at this point in the year and this is sure it. I don't think, by any means, sitting here and saying that's a bad team because of their record, that's a good team. They played really well and they beat us. But it's a little reality check, like, look in the mirror, fix it. We've got some time here in the next four games, it starts with Denver, but to get it fixed and to get geared up for our ultimate goals. It's a good gut-punch that typically does our guys well."
On his role in Justin Fields' touchdown run: "I put a stunt on. Probably one where I get the slide that I shouldn't put a stunt on, because I think I put my D tackle in a bad situation there. Yeah, I put that one on and it's not a good one when you get the O-line slide to you so it's kind of vulnerable, the edge. It's just, you're in game, you make decisions that you think are right. It's the price of this game. It's the price of putting everything on the line."
On jumping offsides on Chicago's third quarter touchdown pass: "It's a momentary lapse in judgement. I'm disgusted with it, that play. That play changed the momentum of the game, and it's on me."
On the defensive penalties: "Yeah, it was a play here, a play there. Just as a defensive unit, we're gonna have to go into this week and really emphasize the discipline, hold each other accountable. We're not gonna point fingers, we're gonna own it. We're gonna take it on the chin as a defense and we're gonna put words to action."
Evaluating the defensive performance after early struggles: "We were doing everything we could. Every time we got to the sideline, next drive, let's get three-and-out, somebody make a play. We were just trying to dial in, everybody do their jobs. But as a unit, we lost our discipline in critical moments too. Those third downs, fourth downs, the time when you really need that discipline, we lost it. So credit to them."
How the offense can improve going forward: "I don't know, ultimately it's just gonna come down to execution. For this game in a vacuum, I'd have to see what's going on on the tape. I just think, across the board, we've got to be more dialed in. Whatever it may be, if it's the snap count, alignments, certain depths on things, whatever it may be. Especially because our defense was getting some huge stops. They were playing really well. So that's on us as an offense."
How the offense can get back to playing its best: "Just re-focus and get back to work. That's gonna be the thing to basically put us in a position to — let's fix this, let's watch this one and let's move forward because that just wasn't who we were and it's definitely disappointing. But we can still move forward, we have four more games moving forward. We've got a Saturday night game coming up so all we can do is focus on that and clean up the issues from that one."
