Lions’ Dan Campbell says loss to Payments ‘precisely what we wanted’

Opposite to near-unanimous NFL teaching opinion, possibly there may be such a factor as a great loss.

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was open to contemplating the benefit of a top quality defeat based mostly largely on the timing of a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Payments on Sunday that snapped an 11-game profitable streak.

“What occurs is, you get used to consuming filet. And I am speaking all of us. And every thing’s good. Life’s good, you understand?” Campbell instructed Detroit radio station 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday. “However you forgot what it was like whenever you had nothing and also you ate your f—ing molded bread. And it was simply fantastic. And it gave you every thing you wanted. And typically you gotta get punched within the mouth and bear in mind what it was once like to essentially respect the place you might be. And we’ll try this.”

“What occurs is, you get used to consuming filet. And I am speaking all of us. And every thing’s good. Life’s good, you understand? However you forgot what it was like whenever you had nothing and also you ate your f—ing molded bread. And it was simply fantastic. And it gave you every thing you wanted. And typically you gotta get punched within the mouth and bear in mind what it was once like to essentially respect the place you might be.”

Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions coach

Operating again David Montgomery, cornerback Carlton Davis III and defensive deal with Alim McNeill suffered season-ending accidents towards the Payments. Campbell mentioned Davis, who broke his jaw and required surgical procedure, may be a candidate to return within the postseason, however any timeline can be decided throughout his energetic restoration.

“And so, we acquired dangerous tastes in our mouth, we acquired kicked across the different day. We misplaced a couple of guys. And you understand what? It is precisely what we wanted,” Campbell mentioned. “That is precisely what we wanted. So we will bounce again. We will reply. We acquired guys who’re about to have an unbelievable alternative right here. And we’ll play the sport any method wanted to win.

“We nonetheless acquired a great offense. We acquired loads of defensive gamers. I can go rattle them off proper now. We’re gonna put the most effective 11 on the sphere. We’re gonna freakin’ reduce it unfastened, We’re gonna play with our particular groups. And I do not give a crap if we now have to win by one level for the remainder of the 12 months, that is what we’re gonna do. And I am gonna be joyful about it. We come out of the sport with 50 yards of whole offense and we win by one, you are gonna see smiles on my face, I promise you. If it is the opposite method defensively, we hand over 700 yards and we win by one level, you are gonna see a f—ing smile from my ear to ear. I promise you.”

The Lions (12-2) go to the Chicago Bears on Sunday within the rematch of a Thanksgiving Day recreation prone to be remembered for a very long time in each cities. The Bears at present are within the midst of an eight-game dropping streak that features the 23-20 vacation setback at Ford Area that resulted within the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus.

Detroit clinched a playoff spot and might nonetheless end first within the NFC to obtain a bye and home-field benefit. The Lions journey to San Francisco for a Monday night time recreation on Dec. 30 earlier than what could possibly be a trophy recreation deciding the North division when the Minnesota Vikings go to Ford Area in Week 18.

Campbell mentioned there isn’t a proxy for the hard-nosed, crimson zone machine Montgomery sitting on the apply squad with the Lions or elsewhere.

However Detroit might need educated reinforcements at cornerback within the close to future. Ifeatu Melifonwu hasn’t performed this season due to an Achilles harm and a damaged finger, however Campbell implied his return-to-practice window would open this week. Rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. stays sidelined by a hamstring harm, and his return, whereas not this week at Chicago, could possibly be close to.

Star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who had surgical procedure in October to restore his fractured tibia and fibula, mentioned he may return if the Lions attain the Tremendous Bowl.

“We’re gonna discover a method,” Campbell mentioned. “And we’re gonna get it completed.”