Video: Dan Campbell Reacts to Bills Snapping Lions' Win Streak in Viral Interview
December 17, 2024
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell once again reached deep into his bag of metaphors to reassure fans with the team's injury issues beginning to pile up.
During an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket's Costa & Jansen (via Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit), Campbell likened the team's situation to "eating filet" and "[forgetting] what it's like when you had nothing and you ate your f--king molded bread."
97.1 The Ticket: @971theticketxyt.<a href="https://twitter.com/Lions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lions</a> head coach Dan Campbell gave a passionate speech to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lions</a> fans this morning with <a href="https://twitter.com/costaandjansen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@costaandjansen</a> <a href="https://t.co/c0uUWHPDwl">pic.twitter.com/c0uUWHPDwl</a>
The coach added that "I don't give a crap whether we gotta win by one point for the rest of the year."
"And I'm going to be happy about it," Campbell said. "We come out of the game with 50 yards of total offense and we win by one? You're going to see smiles on my face. I promise you. If it's the other way, defensively we give up 700 yards and we win by one point, you're going to see a f--king smile from my ear to ear, alright? I can promise you. So we're going to find a way, and we're going to get it done."
Campbell famously made quite an impression during his introductory press conference in Detroit, when he said his team would bite off the kneecaps and other extremities of opposing players.
The coach has ultimately proven to be the breath of fresh air needed to shake off the futility and sense of fatalism that has permeated the franchise for years.
Campbell's defiance right now amid the Lions' injury crisis is the kind of message that will resonate inside the locker room.
Despite losing 48-42 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Detroit remains one of the NFL's best teams and a genuine Super Bowl contender. Doubts over whether the Lions can maintain that standard are beginning to grow, however.
Running back David Montgomery (torn MCL) and defensive lineman Alim McNeill (torn ACL) both suffered season-ending injuries in the Bills game. They join a long list of Detroit players, particularly on defense, who are unavailable.
Russell Brown @RussNFLDraftCrossed off all the names that are hurt on the Lions defensive depth chart. This was the initial depth chart from week one. List does not include Cominsky, Lynn, Martin or Moseley as they were already on IR. Up to 19 players being hurt for this group. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnePride?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OnePride</a> <a href="https://t.co/JN8VddCmfY">pic.twitter.com/JN8VddCmfY</a>
But the Lions won't achieve anything by bemoaning their bad luck, and it sounds like Campbell won't let that happen.
Should they go on to make a deep playoff run, his speech from Tuesday will enter NFL lore forever.
B/R Recommends