Studs and Duds: St. Brown Falters as Chiefs Run Away With Win

On Sunday Night Football, the Detroit Lions returned to Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since the opening night of the 2023 season. Last time Detroit faced Kansas City, the Lions were the scrappy upstarts looking to see the playoffs for the first time under Dan Campbell. This time, the Lions were established contenders facing the back-to-back-to-back AFC Champions.

However, the Lions wilted under pressure. The defense, decimated by injuries early, could not generate many stops, and the offense was undone by multiple mistakes. The Lions fell 30-17.

Under the bright lights of primetime, who shined and who faltered?

STUD: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson, again, played like one of the best players in the league, regardless of position. Detroit’s former No. 2 overall pick recorded his fourth forced fumble on the season in the first half, sacking Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes recovered it, the EDGE was making him uncomfortable.

Hutchinson also missed a sack in the first half, with Mahomes spinning through the tackle attempt. He also generated some pressure in the second half, disrupting a play action pass and forcing an incompletion. The Chiefs smartly stayed away from his side for long stretches in the game.

DUD: CB Rock Ya-Sin

Ya-Sin was one of the players that would be called upon to step up by Detroit, and that was not the case against the Chiefs.

The free agent pickup struggled in coverage, allowing multiple big plays. He was flagged for pass interference on a third down stop, then gave up another first down to Travis Kelce on the ensuing play, which set up Kansas City’s second touchdown.

In the second half, one of his lowlights was being trucked by Kareem Hunt late as the Lions desperately needed a stop.

While the Temple product was put in a hard spot, the “next man up” and the Lions’ lofty standards still apply. Ya-Sin did not appear to meet that on Sunday night.

STUD: HB Jahmyr Gibbs

With the Lions’ defense being battered and short their starting corners, the offense was expected to burn clock. Gibbs was the driving force behind this, with the Alabama back accounting for 59 rush yards in the first half alone. That led the team as they rushed for a season-high 92 yards in the first half.

With the Lions playing catch-up after the Chiefs pulled out to a two-score advantage, he did not see the ball as much, and finished with 65 yards. This became a story of what could have been for the back.