ESPN: Dan Campbell, the coach of the Lions, is under fire for his brutal playoff exit.
The Detroit Lions’ only objective going into the 2024 season was to win the team’s first Super Bowl.
Instead, the season ended abruptly on Saturday when the Lions lost 45-31 to the Washington Commanders, ending their NFL postseason divisional round run and setting the stage for a lengthy offseason. With five offensive turnovers and an inability to stop quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders on defense, the Lions struggled on both ends of the ball.
Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Lions, faced criticism following the game for some crucial errors and the aggressive playcalling that backfired.
Mistakes Cause Lions to Fall
With a league-best 15-2 record at the end of the season, the Lions secured the first-ever No. 1 seed in the NFC. Campbell’s aggressive playcalling was the team’s mainstay, as the offense consistently went for it on fourth downs and used trick plays to throw opposing defenders off balance.
When wide receiver Jameson Williams threw an interception on a trick play in the fourth quarter on Saturday, that tactic backfired. The Lions were attempting to regain momentum after the Commanders scored a touchdown to take a 38-28 lead before the interception.
Social media users expressed disapproval of the choice, arguing that it was not the appropriate moment to take such a risk.
I’m sorry, but with my season on the line, Jameson Williams isn’t being careless, brother. No chance. In an article on X, writer Jon Ledyard stated, “That is one of the dumbest calls I’ve ever seen.”
Additionally, Campbell was criticized for a crucial error that occurred earlier in the fourth quarter. The Lions halted the Commanders on third down after they drove within the 10-yard line, forcing a field goal try. However, the Lions received a flag for having 12 players on the field prior to the kick, which allowed the Commanders to get a free first down and score a touchdown.
“That was an absolute killer. Reporter Albert Breer tweeted on X, “Someone on that sideline has to catch the 12-man thing and bang a timeout.”
Lions Lose
Campbell set out to win the Super Bowl this year after making it to the NFC title game and losing to the San Francisco 49ers by 17 games the previous season. “There’s no reason to aim for anything less,” Campbell told reporters in May.
“I see the Super Bowl, not the bust. “I have no idea what bust is,” Campbell remarked.
“That should be on every team. “Dude, what are you playing for?” should be the attitude of every squad. You have a Super Bowl on the line. That is not different from us.
After crushing the rival Minnesota Vikings in the season finale, the Lions seemed to be on course to achieve that goal, breaking a team record for victories and winning the NFC North. The Lions gained an additional week off to begin the playoffs despite a slew of defensive ailments, and running back David Montgomery was among the crucial players who returned.
Given that defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are both seen as strong prospects to become head coaches, the Lions may now face extra obstacles in the upcoming summer.
