ALLEN PARK — Detroit’s playoff push gained powerful momentum last Thursday night, and one veteran defender stood at the center of it all. Al-Quadin Muhammad has been named NFC Defensive Player of the Week
following his dominant performance in the Lions’ 44–30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Muhammad delivered a career-defining night, recording three sacks against Dallas and completely reigniting Detroit’s pass rush at a critical stage of the season. The 30-year-old now leads the Lions with
nine sacks through 13 games, placing him alongside Micah Parsons as the only NFC defenders with a three-sack game this season.
The outburst also ended a personal drought for Muhammad, who had not registered a sack since Week 9. After more than a month without reaching the quarterback, he exploded at the perfect time, helping Detroit reassert itself as a disruptive defensive force.
His massive impact came despite limited opportunities earlier in the year. Muhammad logged 38 defensive snaps against Dallas, his highest workload since Week 7 before the bye. He had been down to just
19 snaps on Thanksgiving, but with his role expanded, he seized full control of the moment.
With the honor, Muhammad becomes the first Lions defender to win NFC Player of the Week this season
, and the first since Brian Branch in Week 6 of 2024. He is also the first Lions defensive lineman to earn the distinction since Aidan Hutchinson in Week 3 of 2023.
Advanced metrics underscore just how productive Muhammad has been. Pro Football Focus currently ranks him 25th among qualifying edge defenders and 26th in total pressures with 41, numbers that reflect consistent disruption beyond just sack totals.
His impact has only grown alongside Aidan Hutchinson, who continues to command double teams and attention across the league. Hutchinson leads the NFL with 80 total pressures, including
23 over the last four games, creating ideal one-on-one matchups for Muhammad to capitalize.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard made it clear earlier this season that Muhammad is no longer just rotational depth.
“We all know now we have a real guy opposite Hutch,” Sheppard said. “You’ve seen him line up at nose, at the three, on the edge. He plays the run, he rushes the passer, he anchors. He hasn’t blinked.”
For a Lions defense that has battled injuries to Marcus Davenport, Levi Onwuzurike, and Josh Paschal, Muhammad has become far more than a stopgap solution. He has become a stabilizing force.
And now, with playoff hopes alive and momentum surging, the veteran pass rusher has both the spotlight and the credibility to match his impact.
Former Bills First-Round Pick Signs One-Day Contract to Retire at 34
Buffalo fans have seen countless players wear the red, white, and blue, but some leave a mark so deep that their return feels like the closing of a cherished family story.
On a quiet afternoon at Highmark Stadium, a small signing ceremony carried the weight of an entire career. It wasn’t about the future — it was about honoring a past that shaped a legacy.
This former first-round pick was the heart of Buffalo’s secondary for half a decade, matching up against the league’s most dangerous receivers and leaving behind numbers and moments etched into Bills history.
“Once a Bill, always a Bill. This city made me, this team shaped me, and this family gave me everything. I retire in Buffalo because my heart never left,” Stephon Gilmore said.
Drafted 10th overall in 2012 out of South Carolina, the 6’1” cornerback played 68 games in Buffalo, starting 66, recording 14 interceptions, 56 pass deflections, and a pick-six that remains a fan favorite.
His 2016 season was his masterpiece — five interceptions, a Pro Bowl nod, and a key role in pushing Buffalo’s pass defense into the league’s top ten, a rare feat for the franchise that year.
After leaving in 2017, Gilmore won a Super Bowl, earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, and became one of the league’s most respected shutdown corners, but his ties to Bills Mafia never loosened.
At 34, his one-day contract is more than a formality — it’s a statement of love, loyalty, and gratitude to the city and fanbase that first believed in him. Buffalo will forever be home.