Will Dan Campbell Cost the Lions on Sunday?

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches a play against Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The Detroit Lions are among the best teams in football. While they have 14 wins this season, their current iteration is not close to the heights of their potential.

Will Dan Campbell Cost the Lions on Sunday?

With so many key players missing, they have ventured into territory where it is difficult to overcome those absences. Their coach, Dan Campbell, is full of hubris, but when will it bite him?

All season long, Dan Campbell has made a persona out of his achievements with his Detroit Lions. As the head man in charge, it’s fair to give him his flowers for that. However, he has installed two incredibly gifted coordinators, and the high-flying offense is entirely a byproduct of Ben Johnson’s abilities. Campbell doesn’t call plays, and he certainly isn’t offensively minded.

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It has become known that Campbell orders any opportunity to be edgy in a tight situation. On Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, the Lions converted on fourth down three times. They went 2-for-3 on those occasions, but the first cost them points.

Minnesota will score plenty on Detroit’s defense. They are both not good and hurt. The game could certainly come down to who compiles the last few at the end, and that will leave Campbell open to scrutiny if an early miscue comes back to bite him. The Lions head coach leans into analytical decisions regarding fourth-down plays, but he largely makes decisions based on feelings.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell cheers for the players at warm-up before the Seattle Seahawks game at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

As the weeks draw on, so does the importance of every game. With the top seed in the NFC on the line during Week 18, there won’t be another game that can be overlooked the rest of the way. Everything Campbell does from here on out will go on to define how the Lions 2024 season is remembered.

Kevin O’Connell has proven to be a strong tactician. Although his decision-making and clock management have been criticized during games, he has continued to get the most out of his team. You can bet that Minnesota will be well prepared, and their counterpunch should dictate the outcome.

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Campbell has been a great asset to the Lions and has continued pushing them upward. However, it seems that he will eventually get in his own way.

Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.