It’s hard to argue that many NFL teams had a worse Week 15 than the Detroit Lions. Detroit lost its 11-game winning streak, three starters, and their one-game lead in the NFC North standings in a span of just over 24 hours.
Despite all of that, Lions head coach Dan Campbell is staying his usual colorful and optimistic self.
Campbell appeared on 97.1 The Ticket’s Costa and Jansen on Tuesday, less than two days after Detroit’s 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He lamented the team’s loss but ensured the hosts that things were not as dire for the Lions as they may seem in an epic, minute-and-a-half rant.
‘What happens is you get used to eating filet, and I’m talking all of us, and everything’s good. Life’s good,’ Campbell said, referencing the Lions’ 12-2 season to date. ‘But you forgot what it was like when you had nothing, and you ate your (expletive) molded bread. And it was just fine, and it gave you everything you needed. Sometimes you got to get punched in the mouth and remember what it used to be like to really appreciate where you are, and we’ll do that.
‘We got (a) bad taste in our mouth. We got kicked around the other day. We lost a few guys, and you know what? It’s exactly what we needed. This is exactly what we needed. So we’re going to bounce back. We’re going to respond. We got guys that are about to have an unbelievable opportunity here, and we will play the game any way needed to win.’
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That won’t be easy, considering the personnel the banged-up Lions have lost. They still have games remaining against the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers before facing a potentially pivotal Week 18 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings that could decide the NFC North.
But as Campbell explained, he knows the remaining healthy Lions will scrap hard to earn victories. He and the coaching staff are also willing to adjust their plan of attack week-to-week to get wins.
And he ‘doesn’t give a crap’ if the rest of Detroit’s wins aren’t pretty or come by one-point margins.
‘We come out of the game with 50 yards of total offense, and we win by one, you’re gonna see smiles on my face. I promise you,’ Campbell said. ‘If it’s the other way defensively, we give up 700 yards and we win by one point, you’re going to see a (expletive) smile from my ear to ear. I can promise you. We’re going to find a way and we’re going to get it done.’
Should the Lions overcome their Week 15 loss and go on a deep playoff run, Campbell’s radio rant could become a rallying cry akin to his now-legendary ‘bite your kneecaps’ introductory news conference.
Either way, the radio appearance – swears and all – will be a memorable chapter of Campbell’s book of animated, imaginative speeches from his four years with the Lions.