Dan Campbell shows elite mentality in fielding all his starters instead of resting them before playoffs
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell did not want to rest starters for the 49ers game even though they game carried little consequence for the NFC seed.
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Dan Campbell (Image via IMAGO)
The Week 17 fixture against the San Francisco 49ers carried little consequence for Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions who could have sat a few starters to avoid any major injury for the finale with the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday. That’s not how the 48-year-old operates. Every single game is all or nothing for the Lions.
More importantly, the Lions wanted revenge for the 2023 NFC Championship game so fielding a patched squad would not have been enough to win against the Niners even though they were only playing for pride. Before the game at Levis Stadium, Campbell reminded everyone that he would play all the starters.
We’re bringing everything we got to this game, and we are playing. I don’t care what it looks like and where it’s at and who’s this, who’s that. We’re going out to play and win this game, out on the West Coast. So there you go.
Dan Campbell said
The Lions fell behind early in the game with 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy recording a perfect quarterback rating in the first half by throwing multiple touchdowns. However, the momentum shifted toward the Lions when Purdy threw two interceptions, both to Kerby Joseph, and Niners kicker Jake Moody missed two 50+ yard field goal attempts.
Dan Campbell said, “We’re bringing everything we’ve got to this game.” And with no seeding on the line, they did. They brought it and beat the 49ers.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2024
Next up: Minnesota for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed. pic.twitter.com/d7PJGSYHYv
Lions QB Jared Goff connected with Amon Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, and Jahmyr Gibbs to rescue the game for another 300+ passing yards and three touchdowns hall. The game ended 40-34 for the Lions and they went level with the Vikings 14-2.
Dan Campbell defended fielding starters against the 49ers
The win did not guarantee back-to-back NFC North titles just yet. If the Green Bay Packers had defeated the Vikings on Sunday, then the victory over the Niners would have been sweeter.
However, according to Campbell, they won because of the regulars. If he had played fringe players and reserves, then there was a chance of falling behind in the title race and also the NFC top seed.
We don’t get to prepare those other guys because you don’t know what’s going to happen. For example, like, (quarterback Hendon) Hooker’s not getting those reps. Those are [Jared] Goff’s reps because we don’t know [how important the game will be]… So, it’s not fair [to the guys]. I don’t believe it’s fair to put in a guy who’s not prepared to play, especially a young player.
Dan Campbell said via The Detroit News
It’s a good thing that Campbell did not tamper with the offense; otherwise, they would have had to wait one more game for four of the Lions players (Amon Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, David Montgomery, and Jahmyr Gibbs) to achieve 1000 scrimmage yards (for the first time since the 2004 Indianapolis Colts)—they managed it after Williams logged 70 scrimmage yards against the 49ers.
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Ishan Misra
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