CBS Sports: Dan Campbell is held accountable for the Lions’ defeat over the Bills.

On Sunday, Dan Campbell felt something he hasn’t felt in ninety-one days: defeat.

Following an 11-game winning run ending with a 48-42 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills, Detroit’s head coach took full responsibility for the team’s failures and offered no excuses.

“In the end, I didn’t have those players prepared to travel, not in that manner, as I informed the squad. “That’s on me,” Campbell remarked, “especially when you’re playing a squad like that. “I think it’s me since we had other players who had performed far better than that just overall. I wasn’t really prepared for these guys to roll.

After two early running touchdowns by Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Detroit failed to overcome a 14-0 lead, the most in the first quarter of the season, and he claimed he didn’t think the club was ready to match Buffalo’s energy.

Allen, a potential MVP, went 23-of-34 for 362 yards and two scores, destroying the weakened Lions defense. On 11 carries, he totaled 68 running yards.

Although it was a “tough pill to swallow,” as Campbell put it, the Lions saw how they stack up against one of the best in the AFC and realize they still have work to do.

This season, the Bills and Lions tied for the most points (90) and total yards (1,080) in a single game.

“I just believe that we didn’t perform as well as that squad did today on the field. And to be honest, that’s why I placed this on myself,” he remarked. “I just didn’t feel like I had them ready to go, not like we’ve been and you can get away maybe if you’re not quite all the way to a 10, but not against the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota, Philly or whoever they are, it’s not going to be good enough and it wasn’t good enough today.”

Choosing to try for an onside kick early in the fourth quarter, which led to a Bills score to give Buffalo a 45-28 lead with 11:51 remaining, was one of the errors Campbell cited.

Before Allen’s quick touchdown throw to Ray Davis, Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins returned the onside kick inside the Detroit 5.

“I assumed we would be given possession. I believed we would win that ball. “I’ve seen Jake Bates have some of the best kicks,” Campbell remarked. Hollins made a fantastic play on that huge kickoff at the end, and I believe he had a decent jump on us. Of course, looking back now when they took it all the way down to the 3-yard line, I wish I hadn’t done it, but it’s what it is.”

Due to the probable season-ending injuries to lineman Alim McNeill (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis III (jaw), and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (ankle), the Lions defense continued to suffer as three more important players were out against the Bills.

Campbell didn’t blame the Lions’ 13 defensive players on the injured reserve list for their 48-point loss, which matched for the second-highest in a game since he took over in 2021.

“No, I don’t believe it. I’m not. I don’t believe it. “We can improve,” Campbell remarked. “We ought to have performed better. Overall, their crew was more urgent than us today, even if we are aware of their excellence.”

Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was battling food illness on Sunday, despite having a career day with 14 catches for 193 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown.

Jared Goff, the quarterback, also passed for five touchdowns and 494 yards without being intercepted.