Lions’ Dan Campbell Reacts to Playoff Elimination After V...

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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A Christmas Day miracle wasn't in the cards for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions, as the team suffered a devastating 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the second game of a Netflix doubleheader. Not only was it Detroit's third-straight loss, but it officially eliminated the Lions from the playoff chase.

Heading into the game, the team still had a chance to win a postseason spot and was hoping that other game results would work in their favor. However, Jared Goff and the offense never quite got things going as the Vikings' defense was disruptive, creating multiple turnovers.

“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs, and I know our guys don’t either,” Campbell said at his press conference after the game.

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“Whenever you lose, it takes a village; everybody’s involved. Including myself, so I’m always gonna look at myself first,” the Lions coach said, adding, “I’m always gonna wish I’d given Goff more, those players more.”

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Campbell's disappointing 8-8 season arrives after the team looked like a powerful playoff contender last year. However, they had Ben Johnson as their offensive coordinator, who has since moved on to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, a team that clinched a playoff spot last week and is now fighting to win the NFC North and potentially, the No. 1 seed.

“Losing is very disappointing. I hate losing. They do. We do, but look, some of these things that come up, the effort’s there, it's just we’re a little off here, and it’s costing us significantly,” Campbell told reporters.

He mentioned “too many turnovers” was what led to his team’s downfall, and they “couldn’t overcome" that to get back into the game.

Thursday’s result featured the Lions losing to Vikings backup quarterback Max Brosmer, who replaced an injured J.J. McCarthy. While Brosmer had just 51 passing yards, Minnesota’s defense did plenty to frustrate Goff.

The Lions QB finished with 197 yards and a touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, but was also intercepted twice and sacked five times. A fumbled snap in the fourth quarter also didn’t help the Lions in trying to win the game.

Minnesota also contained Detroit’s dynamic duo of running backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, holding them to a combined 66 yards and zero touchdowns. Campbell seemed to assign blame to himself, and one has to wonder what sort of coaching staff or roster changes might arrive after this season.

Just one game remains on the Lions' schedule as they'll face the Chicago Bears with Johnson potentially getting a last laugh of the season at his former team's expense. Earlier this season, Detroit defeated Chicago in a rout, 52-21. Still, the two teams have gone in very different directions since then, with the Bears seemingly on a mission after clinching a playoff spot.

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