Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has become famous for making risky decisions. More often than not, these decisions have worked in his team’s favor, but aggressive play-calling was the biggest reason why Detroit lost to the San Francisco 49ers in last season’s NFC Championship Game.
The Lions recently defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-31 on a walk-off 35-yard field goal that was set up after Campbell ran the ball on the fourth down. Detroit could have won the game even without taking the risk of converting the fourth down, but Campbell didn’t want to give the Packers an opportunity to change the outcome.
Patriots legend and three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi was not a fan of Campbell’s decision and criticized Detroit’s head coach for it.
Richard Sherman Calls Out Tedy Bruschi for Comments on Dan Campbell
Bruschi called out Campbell for going on every fourth down, as the Lions had earlier turned the ball over on downs in their own territory against the Packers. He said Detroit’s head coach’s emotional control could be an issue.
Richard Sherman disagreed with Bruschi and defended Campbell’s decision-making. The legendary Seattle Seahawks cornerback spoke about it on “The Richard Sherman” podcast and highlighted that this aggressive style of playing is what makes Detroit special.
“I have a problem when people have a problem with something that isn’t a problem,” said Sherman. “We see this thing that Tedy Bruschi says, and I got a lot of respect for Tedy Bruschi, played the game right, and won Super Bowls. Just stop Tedy, because I wouldn’t want you on my sideline thinking like that, ‘You gotta act like a winner.’
“They’re 12-1 if that’s their culture, and that’s what they built, and they feel like underdogs, and they play well like that, and they got a bunch of guys who believe in it. What does it matter to you?”
"I have a problem when people have a problem with something that ISN'T a problem"@RSherman_25 goes off on Teddy Bruschi for criticizing Dan Campbell's aggressive play calling pic.twitter.com/iTrtW1e6QR
— Richard Sherman Podcast (@RShermanPodcast) December 11, 2024
Sherman emphasized how going on fourth downs is part of the culture that Campbell has built, and all the players on the team trust their head coach. The Lions might lose some games due to it, but changing a strategy that has transformed them from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a Super Bowl contender is not ideal.
Sherman added, “So if he would have just kicked the field goal on 4th-and-1, and then Green Bay drove down the field and scored a touchdown, you would have been like, well, they lost the right way.
“No, he’s playing winning football. This is the culture that Dan Campbell has built that I’m impressed by, and I think a lot of coaches are taking notes. People want what Dan Campbell has…”
Jordan Love and the Packers got the best out of the Lions’ defense in the second half by scoring 24 points. Had they got the ball back, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Green Bay had gone all the way to win the game or at least tied it with a field goal.
The Lions’ head coach was also praised by Pat McAfee for going for it. Campbell’s gutsy decision to go for it on fourth down sealed the Lions’ win, and such results helped build their confidence for the playoffs.
Lions Have the Best Point Differential in the NFL
The Lions have the joint-best record in the league (12-1) and are currently on an 11-game-winning streak. They also have the league’s best point differential (+183) and have blown out several teams while playing ruthless football.
Jared Goff is an MVP candidate, and Campbell has played a huge role in his resurgence after the quarterback was traded from the Los Angeles Rams. Detroit will face the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, and if Goff leads his team to a blowout win against Josh Allen, the MVP race will get much more interesting.
As of now, Allen is a heavy front-runner to win the award, while Saquon Barkley, Lamar Jackson, and Goff have the next-best odds, respectively. There are still four weeks left in the season, and a lot could change.
Campbell will be determined to help his quarterback get an accolade to show the world how great he is. But the Bills are coming off a heartbreaking 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and they’ll be at their best to avoid another loss, as it would significantly impact their playoff seeding.