Dan Campbell Delivers Brutally Honest Assessment After Lions Are Eliminated

The Detroit Lions turned the ball over six times in the Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings which ended their dreams of playing post season football.

Dan Campbell Delivers Brutally Honest Assessment After Lions Are Eliminated

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Dan Campbell in circle (Image via IMAGO)

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For a team that hates losing, the Detroit Lions have dropped three games in a row, including to bitter rivals the Minnesota Vikings. Losing to the Vikings hurt Dan Campbell more than the other two. It all but ended the faint hope of making it into the playoffs for another year.

The Lions have only themselves to blame for not taking advantage of the Vikings’ messy offense. Rookie Max Brosmer started his second game as JJ McCarthy was unavailable due to an injury in his throwing hand. The Vikings finished with a total of 3 passing yards in four quarters.

In hindsight, the Lions’ offense was equally horrible. Quarterback Jared Goff threw one touchdown but turned the ball over five times (two interceptions and three fumbles), and had another lost fumble by running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Can’t turn the ball over six times and win in this league… You turn the ball over that many times, it’s going to hurt. So that’s what got us.

Dan Campbell said after the game (H/T: Detroit Lions official transcript)

The Lions were still in the contest despite the comedy of errors until a jet-sweep touchdown from Jordan Addison guaranteed a Vikings victory. It ended 23-10.

I hate losing. We do. But look, I mean, some of these things that come up, the efforts there. It’s just… Boy!!! We are not, we’re just a little off here. And it’s costing us significantly. Just there again, too many turnovers. That’s what really got us, man. Just couldn’t overcome it.

Campbell said

The Vikings were already eliminated, and they made sure the Lions missed out as well. Ironically, the Lions blew the Vikings out 31-9 in last year’s regular season finale. Goff threw one touchdown and two picks, while Gibbs had three scores on the ground.

Former Vikings QB Sam Darnold, who completed just 41% of his passes for 166 yards in that fixture, has led the Seattle Seahawks to the top of the NFC with a 12-3 record (the first QB since Tom Brady with such a record in back-to-back seasons).

Dan Campbell failed to uplift the stagnated Lions offense in 2025

The Lions have gotten better every year since Campbell took over as head coach. In 2024, they clinched the NFC North title with 15 wins and came close to going the whole season without giving up any points.

Dan Campbell Delivers Brutally Honest Assessment After Lions Are Eliminated
Jared Goff and Dan Campbell (Image via IMAGO)

It was possible because Campbell had his right-hand man, Ben Johnson, calling the plays on the offense. Johnson had the team playing free-flowing football. Everything came crashing down when he left to take the Chicago Bears job, and now they are at the top of the conference with an 11-4 record.

Campbell’s record with Johnson by his side is 36-15, and without him, the 49-year-old boasts an 11-20-1 record.

Campbell refrained from blaming any particular coaching staff and claimed that everyone must take ownership of the record to turn things around in 2026.

Sometimes it can be one thing here; it could be one player. It could be one coach. You just never know… You got to find your own way, man. So, it’s disappointing at this point. But it is what it is.

Campbell said

The Lions close out the year by facing Johnson’s Bears. In the reverse fixture, Goff threw five touchdowns and went for 334 yards on 23 completions (82%). The combination of Gibbs and David Montgomery had 150+ rushing yards and two scores, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 9 passes for 115 yards and scored 3 TDs.

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