Lions’ Dan Campbell on meeting the Bears, Ben Johnson after loss: ‘We’re going to win this game. We have to

The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears are coming off separate but equally devastating losses to start the season. The Detroit Lions were defeated by the Green Bay Packers, while the Chicago Bears suffered a disappointing home loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

The early season losses have increased the heat on both teams for Sunday’s game in Detroit, where the Lions will face former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

“Ben is my friend. He’ll always be my pal. According to the Detroit News, Lions coach Dan Campbell stated that nothing will change in this regard. “We’re going in, preparing to play Chicago. We are going to win this game. “We have to.”

Both clubs approach the week with the same mindset.

“No one will feel sorry for us. Following Monday’s loss, Johnson stated, “This is going to be a quick turnaround here to get going for Sunday in Detroit, our first road game.” “We gotta turn the page here quickly.”

According to NFL Research, Johnson is the only head coach to “return home” in his first two games since Sean McDermott in 2017 (McDermott’s Bills against Ron Rivera’s Panthers in Week 2, 2017; Carolina won 9-3).

In Week 1, neither the Lions nor Johnson looked terrific without each other.

Under Johnson’s leadership, the Lions’ total and scoring offences were consistently in the top five. In Week 1, the club averaged 3.8 yards per play in Green Bay, the fewest yards/play for Detroit in a game since Week 6, 2021, against Cincinnati (3.7), previous to Johnson’s time as play-caller.

Meanwhile, Chicago struggled at home, squandering an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in Johnson’s first game in charge. The coach had some game-management concerns, beginning with a squandered challenge and finishing with a kickoff that failed to prevent the Vikings from burning the two-minute warning. The first-time head coach discovered that there is more to being the head coach than simply calling a solid game.

Johnson is well aware of the type of reception he will face in Detroit on Sunday, where Lions supporters will undoubtedly make it as tough as possible for his offence to function.

“Maybe (a silent cadence) can help this week. “We’ll need to do that, and we’ll need to be really good at it because this is going to be a loud environment,” Johnson said during a media call on Tuesday, according to MLive. “This will be a playoff-like atmosphere. Ford Field has become something else in recent years, so we’ll have to bring our A-game.”

The winner of Sunday’s match can be more confident in their position. Since 1990, teams who start 1-1 have made the playoffs 41.6% of the time. The losing team will have a difficult climb. Teams that begin 0-2 have made the postseason with a rate of 12.2%.