Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions’ head coach, may be the most criticized coach in NFL history despite having a 12-1 record.
The fourth-year coach has been the focus of a controversy among experts and NFL fans over his decision to be so aggressive on fourth down.
While the Lions have had a good track record of converting fourth downs, Campbell’s decision to go for it on his own side of the field and again late in the game against the Green Bay Packers has dominated the conversation this weekend.
The Lions did not convert on one of “Campbell’s gambles” against the Packers and subsequently gave up a touchdown.
Late in the game, the decision to go for it sealed Detroit’s 12th victory of the season.
Analytics have become a factor in the decision-making of NFL coaches, yet fans and pundits still have not accepted that the popular head coach wants his football team to play aggressive.
Fox Sports Radio host Rob Parker was the most vocal critic, sharing on his program that he believes Campbell is a “bad coach” that will eventually cost the Lions a chance to play in or win a Super Bowl.
“Dan Campbell, for as much credit and people being all excited about him, I think he’s a bad coach. I think he’s worse than Brandon Staley when he was with the Chargers, who got fired,” Parker said.
“And I’m gonna tell you why. This is not being provocative or trying to change the game or having cajones or whatever. This is reckless. And the reason I say he’s a bad coach, and ultimately will wind up costing the Lions a chance at this elusive trip to the Super Bowl, or even a chance to win it, is because what he’s doing is unnecessary and putting his team in harm’s way. And it worked out last night.”
Parker, who was a former beat writer and columnist in Detroit, puts the blame on the Lions losing to the 49ers in the NFC Championship game on Campbell.
“You don’t want to do that if you don’t have to. Going for it on fourth-and-one inside the 30. I read some stat where no team had done it in 25 years since 2000. Had that even been done? I understand Lions fans and you’re one of them, (co-host Kelvin Washington), you love the guy because you endured all the terrible years. Okay I get it.”
Parker continued, “You’re like, ‘Oh, they’re on the cusp. And this is the guy. He’s humble, he’s fearless and this and that.’ But if you’re really honest, Dan Campbell cost you a trip to the Super Bowl last year with the chicanery and all of that. And he’s going to do it again. He hasn’t learned his lesson.”
The Lions will face the Bills next week at Ford Field, contuining their quest for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home-field advantage in the postseason.
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Minnesota Vikings Defender Warns Lions-Obsessed NFL After Week 14 Victory
After demolishing the Atlanta Falcons by 21 points on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings improved their record to 11-2 this season, and they are right in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC behind the Detroit Lions.
With a 12-1 record, the Lions have earned plenty of attention from the national media this year, and rightfully so. But after his team’s dominating victory this weekend, Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. shared with NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero how he wants people to start talking more about the Vikings moving forward.
“Y’all need to start talking about us. We’re tired of the Detroit talk. We’re going to get to that [Week 18] game eventually, but right now, [we’re] just focused on every single Sunday and we’ll see them soon. But right now, talk about the Vikings because we on one right now.”
With the way things have gone so far this season, the Week 18 matchup in Detroit between the Lions and Vikings has the chance to be a huge game with a ton at stake.
Not only could the contest potentially determine the winner of the NFC North, but it could also possibly determine which team will get home-field advantage and a bye in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
Back in Week 7, Detroit snuck out of Minnesota with a two-point win, and one can imagine that every player in the Vikings locker room will be looking to avenge that loss in Week 18, especially since they’ll get to do it inside the Lions’ home stadium.
For now, we can all agree that Murphy is right. Minnesota does deserve a lot more recognition for what they’ve been able to achieve so far this season.
There are times when the Vikings probably like to fly under the radar, but like most people, they also enjoy receiving praise for their accomplishments.
Minnesota just dominated a division leader by 21 points on Sunday, and now they’re tied for the second-best record in the entire NFL. People might have been sleeping on the Vikings before this weekend, but Sunday’s performance should have served as a wake-up call.
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Jared Goff Convinced Dan Campbell to Go for Bold Fourth Down vs. Packers
When Dan Campbell sent his Detroit Lions offense out to pick up a 4th-and-1 and drain the clock down to almost nothing instead of kicking a field goal and giving the Green Bay Packers the ball back last Thursday, it was easy to assume that he didn’t agonize over the decision. Campbell is the most aggressive coach in the NFL and he has the highest tolerance of risk—specifically when it comes to fourth down decisions.
As has happened more often than not in these situations, things worked out for Campbell and the Lions as David Montgomery plunged through the line to set up a game-winning Jake Bates field goal in Detroit’s 11th consecutive win. But it almost didn’t happen.
Somewhat surprisingly, it sounds like Campbell was initially leaning toward taking the three points and risking late fourth quarter Jordan Love before he was talking into remaining true to himself by quarterback Jared Goff.
Richard Sherman, who worked the Thursday Night Football game for Amazon, recounted his postgame conversation with Goff, who was asked what the sideline meeting with Campbell before the pivotal play was like.
“Jared basically comes over and Dan’s on the headset telling him, ‘Hey we’re kicking it’ and Jared, you know, dejected, is like ‘Man, I wanted to go.’ And Dan Campbell just looks at him and said, ‘You want to do it, eff it we’re going for it.’ And then he changes his mind and goes for it.”
Everything seems to be working for the Lions. The one time Campbell thought about not being Campbell he was talked back into it by his quarterback. It’ll be interesting to see if he ever makes another conservative decision again, because the players seem to have bought all the way in.
