DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – A potential Super Bowl matchup heads to Texas on Sunday as Detroit takes on the Houston Texans. Detroit boasts the best record in the NFC at 7-1, while Texas is 6-3.
“They are a really good opponent. I have respect for what DeMeco is doing over there with that team. They play hard, are physical, violent, aggressive, and finish on the ball. They are explosive on offense, defense and special teams and is going to be a really good test for us,” says Detroit head coach Dan Campbell.
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Detroit has the team to match the Texans’ aggressiveness and physical talent with a solid offensive and defensive line presence to playmakers in Jared Goff, David Montgomery, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Since Hutchinson went down with an injury, Detroit’s pressure on the defensive line hasn’t been as strong. That changed on Tuesday by adding former Cleveland Brown Za’Darius Smith. Smith came over for a 2025 5th round and 2026 6th round pick as the Lions also received a 2026 7th round pick.
Smith was acquired to help on the defensive line after Hutchinson was lost for the season. He is 32 years old and will be under contract through 2025. He has five sacks this season and is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Campbell says on Smith, “He brings an element of toughness. Smart football player, can set an edge, can get an edge and rush, close the pocket down. He’s just a really good complementary piece. I think it’s gonna work well with our guys.”
Detroit has 20 sacks in the year for 17th in the NFL, but only 7.5 belong to Hutchinson.
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio compliments the Lions saying, “You’re going to be hard pressed to find a better team in the league than the Detroit Lions. It starts with the top with Brad (Holmes) and Dan (Campbell), the job that they’ve done with the program from where it started to where it is now. Nothing but respect, appreciation, admiration for the team that they have built.”
The two teams face off in the Sunday Night Football battle on NBC at 7:20 p.m.
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