Copyright WDIV ClickOnDetroit
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the media ahead of the NFC Divisional Round rematch against the Washington Commanders, emphasizing the team’s focus on scoring touchdowns and stopping opponents on offense, defense, and special teams. “It’s been a good two and a half days, going on our third day. Guys are locked and ready,” said Campbell. When asked about last year’s playoff loss and its impact, Campbell said the team is motivated to win rather than dwell on past defeats. “We just lost, and more than anything, you want to do everything you can to give yourself the best chance to come away with a win after a loss,” Campbell said. “I don’t want to have another loss, and I know our guys don’t either.” Defensive line Campbell praised the Commanders’ defensive line as one of their strengths but expressed confidence in the Lions’ offensive line matchup. “Those guys can push the line of scrimmage and edge you, but I like our matchup. I know our line will be ready,” Campbell said. Offensive struggles Regarding the Lions’ recent offensive struggles, Campbell explained that offensive planning is a collaborative effort among coaches, with ideas building on each other to improve efficiency and rhythm. “It’s like trying to get a fire started. It’s smoldering with embers, and we just need a little oxygen from us as coaches,” Campbell said. Campbell acknowledged the challenge of fixing small execution errors that appear across plays but believes that minor adjustments can quickly clean things up. “You tweak one little thing, and all of a sudden, it cleans everything up and takes off,” Campbell said. “It’s not as bad as people think.” When pressed for examples of such tweaks, Campbell said it could involve the rhythm of play-calling or who the offense tries to get involved, but declined to reveal specifics. On the team’s third-down issues, Campbell said the Lions expect to be better and that success requires everyone doing their part early in the game. “When we’re playing our best ball, those mistakes rarely show up,” Campbell said. Fan perceptions Campbell addressed fan perceptions, noting that despite a 5-3 record, the team feels underestimated and is comfortable being an “afterthought” as it focuses on improvement. “It’s good to be a little bit of an afterthought again,” Campbell said. “We’ll go about our business and come out humming.” Campbell also reflected on the reality of expectations after last year’s 15-win season, warning the team to be ready for criticism if they lose more games this year. “There’s a chance we may lose more than two games this year, and that doesn’t mean anything,” Campbell said. “We’ll be a better team by the end of the year.” Injuries On injuries, Campbell updated that Josh Pascal has returned sooner than expected and is pushing hard in practice, while D.J. Reed Jr. is progressing but likely out until early December. “Pascal looks great, a little sore but ready to go. Reed is getting better every day,” Campbell said. Campbell downplayed the significance of losing a key player compared to sports like basketball, where fewer players mean a single loss has a greater impact. “In football, you lose one guy, but you have another 10 on the field to alleviate pressure,” Campbell said. Defense/special teams Campbell praised the defense and special teams, calling the defense “freaking playing at a high level” and special teams a strong unit, despite a recent outlier performance. “Washington probably has the top special teams unit in the league, so it’s a great test for us,” Campbell said. Look for the Lions to get back on track against a banged-up Washington team, which is expected to be without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m.
