Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is known for his honesty and accountability, and after his team’s 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he didn’t hold back. Speaking to reporters following the defeat, the fourth-year coach took full responsibility for a critical mistake before halftime that may have cost his team valuable points.
With 18 seconds left in the second quarter, the Lions had possession of the ball on Tampa Bay’s 17-yard line and a chance to extend their lead. However, a botched attempt to set up a field goal left the Lions empty-handed. Campbell owned up to the error, saying, “There was no way to justify this. It’s a massive error on my part and no one else’s. It was just between hurry-up field goal and clocking it, and it was 100% my fault.”
Despite Campbell’s admission, Lions players like quarterback Jared Goff, D.J. Reader, and Aidan Hutchinson expressed admiration for their coach’s leadership. Goff told reporters, “I know he took accountability for that, but we had plenty of opportunities to overcome it and make plays to win the game. As players, we got to be better. I got to be better. I have to pick him up, I have to pick up the other guys, and that’s how we win.”
Goff struggled in the game, completing 34 of 55 passes for 307 yards but throwing two costly interceptions. His 61.8 quarterback rating reflected a rough outing, especially in the red zone, where the Lions went just 1-for-7. Despite outgaining the Buccaneers in total yards (463 to 216) and first downs (26 to 14), Detroit couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most.
Though Goff acknowledged his subpar performance, Campbell reaffirmed his confidence in his quarterback. “He’ll rebound. Has he played better? Yeah, he’s played better. But I know him, and he never stays down. He’s going to look at it tonight, come in tomorrow, and take ownership. He’ll be better. That’s just the way he’s wired,” Campbell said.
The Lions will look to bounce back as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals on the road in Week 3. Both teams sit at 1-1, making this an important early-season matchup for Detroit.
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