Why Aidan Hutchinson thinks win over lowly Giants shows Lions are 'a good team'

The Detroit Lions needed overtime to earn a 34-27 win over the lowly New York Giants (2-10) that improved Detroit to 7-4 on Sunday afternoon. 

Following the victory, pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson spoke with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated about the Lions bouncing back from a disappointing 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that Detroit suffered on Nov. 16.

Aidan Hutchinson challenges Lions to build off win over Giants

"When you aren’t playing your best ball and you’re still winning football games, that’s the mark of a good team," Hutchinson told Breer. "We gotta build off that. It’s when adversity strikes, players coming through, making plays and getting us out of those games."

Last week, Hutchinson publicly challenged the Lions to win three consecutive home games through Week 14. The Giants then scored the opening 10 points of Sunday's game, and the Lions were trailing Big Blue by 10 points when Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored a 49-yard rushing touchdown with under 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. 

On his first touch of overtime, Gibbs took the ball 69 yards to the house for what proved to be the contest's game-winning score. Hutchinson later recorded a walk-off sack of Giants quarterback Jameis Winston.

Aidan Hutchinson, Lions "super happy" to get win after scare

"That’s what good football teams do," Hutchinson added. "When the fire gets a little bit hot, your best players have to step up and make plays in those moments. No matter how tired or deep in the game it gets, it’s gotta be there. And we did that [Sunday]; that’s why we won. We are super happy we got this one in."

The Lions began Monday trailing both the 7-3-1 Green Bay Packers and the 8-3 Chicago Bears in the battle for the NFC North division title. The Lions fell to the Packers in Week 1 before Detroit defeated Chicago in Week 2. The Lions host the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, and Detroit will play at Chicago in Week 18. 

As of Monday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Lions as 2.5-point favorites for Thursday's home game against the Packers.