The Detroit Lions continue to march forward in this NFL season, and as the end approaches, they aim to enter the playoffs in the best shape possible. While strategies can sometimes yield positive or negative results, Dan Campbell knows that his team is where it is thanks to a unique difference he has as a coach compared to his peers.
The Lionsâ head coach appeared on 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning and made it clear that his approach to handling 4th downs in games, along with his decision to be more aggressive in these situations, is what sets him apart from the rest.
âOh, I donât know. Well, hereâs the obvious. What happens when we donât get that? Thatâs the obvious. Well, weâre moving to the next house,â Campbell said. âThatâs why. To each his own, thereâs plenty of philosophies that work in this league. And you can win a lot of games doing it your way, and I just lean more this way. It doesnât mean that weâre always gonna be this way, but that was right for that game.â
These types of decisions can pay off, but they can also lead to criticism for the head coach. So far this season, the Lions have the ninth-most fourth down attempts in the league (22). Theyâve converted 15 of them, boasting the sixth-best conversion rate at 68.2 percent.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the Detroit Lions versus the Green Bay Packers game on Thursday December 5, 2024 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI.
Campbell spoke about Hutchinsonâs return
One of the most significant injuries this season was the serious injury to Aidan Hutchinson. The DE suffered a severe fracture in Week 6 against the Cowboys, which has kept him off the field ever since.
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Dan Campbell knows that Hutchinsonâs return could provide a significant morale boost for the team as they head into the final stretch of the season. However, he has not guaranteed that the pass rusher will be back on the field anytime soon.
âHonestly, Iâm where I was when the injury happened, and thatâs always just saying, âLook, this is a tough injury.â It is, but I would just never count him out just knowing who he is,â Campbell explained. âAnd heâs working, he is progressing, but I canât say â I canât give you a timeline. And I donât know if heâll have the time to get there, but if anyone could, itâs him.â
The Lionsâ final stretch
The team led by Jared Goff has just four games remaining, with the main goal being to claim their division. With the playoffs already secured, the focus now is on racking up as many wins as possible to secure the top spot in the conference.
- vs Buffalo Bills
- vs Chicago Bears
- vs San Francisco 49ers
- vs Minnesota Vikings
