The Wolverine

February 2023

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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62 THE WOLVERINE FEBRUARY 2023 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE F or the first time since 2017, the De- troit Lions posted a winning record at 9-7, narrowly missing the NFL play- offs after losing a head-to-head tie- breaker with the Seattle Seahawks. De- troit began the year 1-6 but finished by winning eight of its last 10 outings and notched a 5-1 division record, the best mark in the NFC North. Former U-M defensive end Aidan Hutchinson recorded 9.5 sacks, a half- sack shy of the franchise's rookie record, and was a huge part of the turnaround. No NFL edge rusher was double teamed more than Hutchinson in 2022, per ESPN's pass-rush win data. He faced two blockers 30 percent of the time, the same rate as Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett. Hutchinson is expected to finish sec- ond in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, and DetroitLions.com recently named him as its unanimous pick for the team's Defensive Player of the Year. "The Lions got what they wanted in drafting Hutchinson second over- all," the site's Mike O'Hara wrote, with editor Lindsay Miller adding that the 6-foot-7, 264-pounder "lived up to his potential and then some." Hutchinson capped off his season with a 2-sack performance in a 20-16 win over the Green Bay Packers. The Lions went into the game knowing they couldn't make the postseason, but the U-M product helped lead them to vic- tory and end their division rival's play- off hopes. DetroitLions.com recently named Hutchinson as its unanimous pick for the team's Defensive Player of the Year. His 9.5 sacks were a half-sack shy of the franchise's rookie record. PHOTO BY JEFF NGUYEN/DETROIT LIONS MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Aidan Hutchinson Keys Detroit Lions' Remarkable Turnaround Season

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