Lions Star Aidan Hutchinson Avoided Punishment for Patrick Mahomes Hit
The Detroit Lions faced plenty of NFL punishment for their testy game against the Kansas City Chiefs, including safety Brian Branch who was handed a one-game suspension for sparking a postgame skirmish when he struck wide receiver
But another Lions star avoided punishment for an earlier hit on quarterback Patrick Mahomes that drew a penalty.
Aidan Hutchinson Escapes Punishment
Hutchinson handed his team a costly penalty in the second half of last week’s 30-17 loss when he came off a block late and hit Mahomes well after the Chiefs quarterback had released the ball. The hit drew a flag for unnecessary roughness and allowed the Chiefs to extend their drive.
Instead of getting the ball back trailing by three points and the chance to tie or take the lead, the Lions watched Mahomes continue to march the Chiefs down the field, ending the drive with a touchdown pass to
The NFL regularly issues fines for late hits, but Hutchinson avoided punishment when the league announced fines on Saturday. There were two other Lions players —
Hutchinson has had to deal with plenty of borderline hits himself. Earlier this season, the Lions sent a message to the league asking for officials to keep an eye out for illegal low blocks against the team’s star edge rusher.
“The Detroit Lions have taken notice, and they’ve asked the league office to monitor the plays against Aidan Hutchinson,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Monday Night Countdown last month.
Lions Lose Brian Branch for Critical Game
The biggest hit to the Lions was the one-game suspension for Branch, who appealed but was turned down in his bid to have the punishment overturned. The Lions must now face the 5-1
Despite Branch’s attempt to appeal the suspension, NFL vice president of football operations
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game,” Runyan said.
While Branch was widely criticized for his postgame actions, Mahomes was more forgiving of the late hit from Hutchinson. He told reporters after last week’s game that he expects hard hits against a physical team like the Lions and didn’t feel it was personal.
“You’re playing football. I mean, you’re being chippy,” Mahomes told reporters. “That’s a physical football team, and they have a mentality that they come in to play with, and we’re going to match that mentality. We’re not afraid to go up against anybody, and that’s the mentality coach (Andy) Reid brings every single day.”
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Delivers Blunt Take About Eagles Star
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22. The slim margin of defeat makes Justin Jefferson’s dropped touchdown reception against Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stand out, and the All-Pro wide receiver is certainly taking it to heart.
Jefferson finished the game with five receptions for 79 yards. He was officially held out of the end zone following strong comments regarding that aspect of his game before the contest.
After the loss, Jefferson did not mince words about that battle with DeJean.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Delivers Blunt Take on Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
GettyCooper Dejean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles breaks up a pass intended for Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings.
DeJean drew attention for his, as Pro Football Focus suggested on X after the play, lockdown coverage on Jefferson on the play during a drive that eventually saw the Vikings settle for a field goal.
Asked if he believed his “drop” was actually DeJean breaking up the pass, Jefferson said, “nah.”
“All respect to him, but that, that’s a catch any day of the week,” Jefferson told reporters on October 19. “I just gotta be more focused into pulling the ball into me and towards instead of just laying the ball out there and letting him just knock the ball out my hand. So, I would say that’s more on me than on him.”
DeJean celebrated the incompletion, as DBs are wont to do. However, it was Jefferson who was touting his abilities and, really, his mindset before the game.
“To be honest, wherever that ball touched my hand, I’m trying to get in that [end]zone,” Jefferson told Vikings legend Randy Moss on “Sunday NFL Countdown” on October 19. “So, it can be in the red zone, it can be from 50, or it might go 97 [yards] again. Who knows?”
Jefferson’s longest reception of the day went for 40 yards on a catch-and-run.
Justin Jefferson Points Out Red Zone Issues
GettyJustin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a catch against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jefferson said that the Vikings’ struggles in the red zone were due to “just hurting ourselves and just causing us to go backwards instead of forward. We just got to execute our plays to the fullest and just take one play at a time. And when the opportunity comes, make those plays.”
The Vikings were 1-for-6 on the day in the red zone, including Jefferson’s drop.
“One of those red zone drives is – that’s me, dropping a touchdown, and not really pulling the ball all the way in. And I’m always critical on myself,” Jefferson said. “And always, especially when my opportunities are very, very slim. So, those are opportunities, I got to make the most of them.”
Making the most of their opportunities was a theme for the Vikings during Jefferson’s postgame availability.
Justin Jefferson Remains Confident in Vikings
Asked if the Vikings were trying to “figure it out” during the game, Jefferson said. “Yeah and no.”
“Honestly, it’s just executing those plays, those one or two plays, every drive that kind of hurts us and put us in bad positions. But I don’t feel like we’re still trying to ‘find out’ or still trying to ‘figure out what’s going on,’” Jefferson said.
“We understand what’s going on. We have the players out there that make the plays and do what we need to do to go down and score; we just need to finish those drives, especially games like this. We’re competing against a team that just won a Super Bowl. So, plays like that and making the most of those opportunities is the things that count.”
Jefferson and the Vikings will look to regroup in Week 8. They will visit the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week for “Thursday Night Football.”
