Exclusive Interview With Dan Campbell: We don’t need to talk about being resilient. We live it… Full Story

Bob Wojnowski: Dan Campbell’s Lions continue to go for it in every manner.

DETROIT — It appeared to be a gigantic wager, one of the most risky in the Gambling Man’s career. But, as Dan Campbell has taught us, the only terrible gamble is one that is not taken. And when you have complete faith in your squad and quarterback, you can do almost anything.

The Lions continue to challenge the odds, defy tradition, and win games by any means necessary. This time, they needed their powerful offensive to compensate for their weakened defense, therefore no risk was too great.

Instead of trying the simple field goal with 43 seconds left in a tie game, Green Bay went for it on fourth down from their own 21. Four other times, they did not even try for it on fourth down, despite scoring scores twice. The final gamble on fourth-and-1 was a desperate one, as Jared Goff struggled and collapsed while passing off to David Montgomery, who pushed through a hole for 7 yards.

A few seconds later, Jake Bates kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired, and the Lions defeated Green Bay, 34-31, in another Thursday night classic at Ford Field. It was searing drama between increasingly angry opponents, and the Lions took it all. They swept the season series, won their 11th consecutive game, and claimed a postseason position with a 12-1 record.

They maintain a one-game lead over the Vikings in the NFC North and now have ten days to prepare for 10-2 Buffalo. The Lions were missing nearly a dozen defensive players due to injuries, and their standout in the middle, Alim McNeill, was sent into concussion protocol in the first quarter. Players signed five days earlier leaped in, as defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn devised a blitzing assault strategy, risk be damned.

It was Campbell’s theme all week, and as the Lions neared the nationally broadcast game, it appeared like all of NFL America was wondering if they could compete with the hot Packers (9-4). One thing was certain: they were not going to sit around waiting for everyone to get better. They planned to ramp up the offensive, fill up Ben Johnson’s playbook, and, sure, go for it on every plausible fourth down. (Even absurd ones).

“We knew our offense was going to need to carry the load, carry a little bit more of the backpacks and such,” says Campbell. “I love how we simply find a way, and the story coming in was that we weren’t buying any of this. No excuses. We don’t need to talk about toughness or resilience; we live it and are who we are. “We just proved it again.”

The Lions were 4 for 5 on fourth-down attempts, extending possessions, keeping their defense off the field, and establishing significant advantages in time of possession (36 to 24 minutes), total yards (391-298), and total plays (76-45).

This wasn’t even about statistics or what the odds predicted. This was a tactic to keep the ball away from Jordan Love, the dangerous quarterback, and Josh Jacobs, the strong running back. They were able to win on the last play by converting that last fourth down rather than giving the ball back to the Packers with around 40 seconds left.

“You’d love to say you’re going to convert every one of them, but that’s not the reality,” Campbell told me. “You understand you’re accepting a significant amount of danger. But I thought that with our team, it wouldn’t be as large a risk as it appeared to be.”

This derives from his belief in his quarterback and the league’s top-scoring attack. Goff finished 32 of 41 for 283 yards and set an odd NFL record by completing at least five passes to six different players.

Tim Patrick, a former practice squad member, caught two touchdown passes, including a three-yarder on fourth down. Jahmyr Gibbs grabbed a two-yard touchdown throw on fourth down. Only one fourth-down attempt failed, and it was disastrous. On fourth-and-1 from the Lions’ 30 late in the third quarter, Gibbs was downed for no gain. The Packers immediately scored on one of Jacobs’ three touchdown runs, an 8-yarder that put them ahead, 28-24.

These lions simply do not blink. If you play poker with Campbell, you never know when he’s bluffing. In blackjack, I believe he occasionally hits a 17. I’m not sure if he bets on red or black in roulette, but he always goes with Goff.

“I think he’s done a really good job of deciding when to go and when not to go,” Mr. Goff said. “Certainly, because it worked, everyone will say, ‘Great call,’ but if it didn’t work, you’d be crushing him. That’s the game he plays, which is why he’s the one with the huge stones, and we believe him.”

On this particular night, the stones were more like boulders. Goff had thrown an interception early in the third quarter, setting up a short touchdown drive that gave Green Bay its first lead, 21-17. But Campbell’s faith is unwavering, instilling players with confidence, even swagger.

“He kind of challenged the offense really early in the week, challenged myself, ‘Hey, it’s your turn to hold your weight and carry the load,'” said Goff. “For me, that is the best sensation ever. You are like, ‘Let’s effing go and make this thing happen.'”

For the record, I believe the majority of Campbell’s gambles are sound, including those that fail. A unsuccessful one may still have a purpose, drawing attention to the Lions’ image as one of the league’s edgiest, most aggressive teams, which is growing.

They’ve defeated the Packers in six of the last seven games, and there’s some heated rivalry going on here. Even before the game, Packers coach Matt LaFleur got into a heated verbal altercation with a person on the field who was assisting hold the large flag.

“He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat-slash sign,” LaFleur said. “I’ve never seen that, I’ve been on many fields, and usually they police that much better.”

It definitely didn’t help that the flag person was wearing a Brian Branch shirt, and Branch was ejected in the first game between these teams, which the Lions won 24-14 in Green Bay. Branch fired the double-bird salute as he departed Lambeau Field, which has since been immortalized on T-shirts.

Fellow safety Kerby Joseph wore one of the shirts during pregame introductions, and the sniping appears to have continued. Teams have accused Joseph of being a nasty player, and Packers tight end Tucker Kraft recently stated, “If I get a chance to get my hands on him, you know, playing football …” without more explanation.

The Lions’ defensive players heard it all, or claimed to have heard everything. It doesn’t take much to pique the interest of this boisterous group.

“(The Packers) were saying craziness like Jordan Love was about to pass for 430 yards,” cornerback Carlton Davis III explained. “It was insulting. I believe he had around 200 yards (206 really).

In a high-tension, high-risk, high-energy battle, the Packers had a chance to make it a division contest, but the Lions simply wouldn’t let them have the ball. Campbell’s gambles are most noticeable on fourth downs, but they are also visible on the patchwork defense, which took several risks.

Some believed Love would be able to pick apart the defense, which lacks enough healthy personnel to establish a reliable pass rush. They created plenty, which undoubtedly exacerbated the Packers’ anger.

“I feel like they didn’t expect us to win,” Joseph explained. “But with us, you gotta expect the unexpected.”

The Lions officially anticipate the unexpected. And they continue to demonstrate it, down after down, all four downs if necessary.

Detroit Lions player seen in repulsive behavior following Packers’ victory in the locker room speech

One Detroit Lions player became ill to his stomach in the middle of a post-game statement following a significant Thursday Night Football triumph.

Thanks to a walk-off, game-winning field goal from kicker Jake Bates, the Lions had just finished upsetting the division foe Green Bay Packers and would be moving to 12-1 on the season.

Campbell had started addressing the squad in the locker room following the game when backup offensive lineman Dan Skipper started to throw up.

In the speech, Campbell said, “Offense that’s a way to step up, man, that’s a way to step up – there you go, Skip, keep throwin’ up! Whatever your current activity over there. That’s how you frickin’ lay it on the line.

The camera moved to Skipper hunching down and appearing red in the face as his friends laughed alongside.

Campbell grabbed it in stride and carried on his speech to the team: “Guys, I’m so frickin’ proud of you dude. That’s your mode of showing up. You mention pressure? Every day we live under strain.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell had his post-game speech interrupted by a player

Offensive lineman Dan Skipper was seen throwing up after a hard-fought win over Green Bay

Detroit trailed twice against Green Bay and worked their way out of it to secure the victory.

When they gifted the Packers consecutive touchdowns, they first squandered a 17-7 halftime lead. They eventually broke free from that jam leading 24 to 21 entering the last quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Green Bay would once more lead, until Detroit answered with a score.

With over three-and- a- half minutes left, the Packers would kick a field goal to give Detroit the ball back with the game tied.

They drove down the field in eleven plays, setting up a 35-yard field goal for Bates, who easily completed it.

Detroit has won their previous eleven games consecutively into their last four games before to the playoffs.