There’s a lot to be said for winning games in the NFL, but when you’re a team that’s not known for winning, it means even more. That’s the case with the Detroit Lions right now. The team, which rarely even flirts with making the playoffs, just sacked their third consecutive win last weekend for the first time since 2017.

The Detroit Lions beat the New York Giants on the road at Metlife Stadium with a definitive 31-18 victory. Now, NFL critics are calling the team one of the hottest in the league.

One of the Lions’ rookies has been especially strong the past few games: DL Aidan Hutchinson. He, of course, hails from Michigan and was a draft pick from the University of Michigan football team. In fact, on Wednesday (Nov. 23), he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

With Hutchinson’s strong performance and the Lions’ unexpected winning streak, it begs the question, could Hutchinson be named Defensive Rookie of the Year?

It’s a possibility, but not a probability- yet. New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is currently the likely pick for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Hutchinson is right behind him after a huge showing during Sunday’s game. Hutchinson made a major interception in the second quarter that helped propel the Lions to the victory. Then, he recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. That gives him 5.5 sacks and two picks on the season.

That said, it will be difficult for Hutchinson to top Gardner for the pick, and some of that is just luck and politics. Gardner is playing in a larger market and on what it currently a better team. But, if the Lions keep winning and Hutchinson keep coming through on game-changing plays for Detroit, he could upset the current pick. Either way, it’s obvious that Hutchinson was worthy of being the Lions’ first draft pick and is making the Mitten proud.