'MNF' takeaways: Lions rookies, Maxx Crosby shine in Detroit win

The Lions got back on track Monday night against the Raiders. Here are the main takeaways from their 26-14 win.

Lions are a contender because of their defense

The Lions offense lifted the team from the bottom rung of the NFL ladder to respectability last season. However, it's the improvement from the defense that has the team ready to go from middle-of-the-pack to Super Bowl contender.

Entering Monday night, second-year defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was second in the league in total quarterback pressures (24). He added another two quarterback hits on Monday. Detroit's maligned secondary a year ago held a Raiders receiving unit led by Davante Adams without a catch in the first half. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finished 10-of-21 for 126 yards and an interception.

The NFC is up for grabs, and Detroit is as capable as any team of making a run to the Super Bowl. Against the Raiders, Detroit's offense wasn't its best as the unit stalled in the red zone and quarterback Jared Goff threw a pick-six. Last season, Detroit would have lost a game like the one it had on Monday. The Lions won because of their defense, another sign that they're for real.

Maxx Crosby deserves better

Every week Maxx Crosby plays, he reminds us that he's one of the league's best defensive players. It's unfortunate, then, that he's being wasted on a bad Raiders team. He was a one-man wrecking crew against the Lions, catching wide receiver Jameson Williams six yards in the backfield on one second-quarter play and following that by stuffing running back Jahmyr Gibbs later in the quarter.