Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hold back when addressing his team’s disappointing defensive performance following the 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills. After a game in which the Lions' defense allowed 48 points, Campbell was clearly frustrated, but he made it clear that he wasn’t looking to use injuries as an excuse for the unit’s struggles.
Dan Campbell on Defensive Frustrations
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Campbell said when asked about the defensive effort. “I thought we would be better. It’s not the, you know, some of these things where they make a play, man, I can live with that stuff. It’s across the board, when you know that you have self-inflicted wounds—there’s things that we did on our own—and gave those guys something to where they had better opportunities. That’s the frustrating part. You just want to know that you didn’t help them, and I do feel like we helped them a little bit there.”
Campbell’s comments reflected his belief that the Lions' defense didn't just get beat by the Bills' high-powered offense but also made mistakes that put them in difficult positions. Whether it was missed tackles, blown assignments, or giving up key plays at the wrong times, the Lions’ defense couldn’t keep up with the Bills, even as Jared Goff and the offense put up a strong performance.
Refusal to Use Injuries as an Excuse
When asked if injuries were a factor in the defensive struggles, Campbell was adamant in his response.
“No, I’m not buying it. I’m not. I don’t buy it. We can be better. We should’ve been better. We know how good they are, but that team was more urgent than us today, overall,” Campbell said.
His response echoed the sentiment that while injuries have certainly plagued the Lions this season, it was a matter of execution and effort that led to their defensive shortcomings. Campbell made it clear that despite the challenges, the team is capable of playing better and must be more urgent in their approach moving forward.
Moving Forward
Despite the frustrating loss and defensive struggles, the Lions still have a strong 12-2 record and remain in control of their destiny with three games left in the regular season. The defense will need to address its issues quickly, especially with the playoff race heating up.
Campbell’s refusal to make excuses shows the level of accountability and determination he expects from his team. As the Lions prepare for their next game, they’ll need to adjust and focus on executing better defensively if they want to make a deep playoff run.
