Even this year, Campbell is doing the same old. It's seldom talked about when it works, but when it doesn't, it's a never-ending conversation.
But despite what you might think about Campbell's coaching, Lions lineman Josh Paschal says the team has zero issue with it.
"Honestly, we all love it. We love playing for him. When people think that somebody's not doing something great, I just feel like if you change it up, then you’re going out of your identity," Paschal said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "What I love about him so much is he sticks to his identity, he knows who he is as a coach, as a man, and it’s not gonna change."
One thing that's for certain about Campbell, though, is he is a leader, and the Lions would run through a wall for him.
"I promise you, it would be a Monday at 8 a.m. hearing a speech, and you are ready to rumble right there," Paschal joked. "If anybody needs to get motivated, just a regular 9-5 type of person and get motivated for a workout, wake up in the morning and watch one of his speeches."
The Lions sit at 12-2 atop the NFC North, so it's hard to do much complaining about Campbell, who has turned the organization around completely.
This may just be the best Lions team of all time, as their offense is one of the best in the league. But they do face a challenge with their second outdoor game of the season in a frigid Chicago on Sunday.
When he was in college, Josh Paschal's football career took a big hit – he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in his left foot.
"Of course, it's going to bring you down when you first hear it. I'd be lying if I said it was easy at first," the now Detroit Lions linebacker said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.
But he returned and played himself into becoming a second-round pick in 2022, which he feels is destiny.
"It's just amazing to be around such great leadership. Our front office, our head coach, it’s the best team I’ve ever been around…. This is an amazing experience. This is the closest group I’ve had since I played football. This group, this team just loves each other. We’ve been through adversity, but it just embraces this city and the culture of grit, of pushing through obstacles and adversity. That’s the identity of this team," Paschal said.
That last sentence fits Paschal to a T – as he put his cancer diagnosis, "it's honestly the worst thing that can happen to you in life."
But his head coach, Dan Campbell, puts it all into perspective.
"Coach Campbell says this all the time, he says everybody in this room is here for a reason.’ And I feel like the reason I’m here, I’ve been through adversity. I've seen it right in the eyes. It's honestly the worst thing that can happen to you in life, and I'm thankful that the Lord guided me through that whole situation," Paschal said. "But I feel like everybody in this room, everybody in our team room when we have team meetings, or no matter if it's coaches or if his players, they've been through the adversity, they know how to get through it, and they are high character."
Earlier this year, Paschal represented the Jimmy V Foundation as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" campaign. He became more familiar with the foundation last year and wanted to be a part of the team.
"It’s something that brother put on my radar. And I did some research about it, and then I saw his famous quote, "Don’t ever give up" in his ESPY speech. I was extremely motivated and moved by that, and that pushed me toward wanting to work with them," said Paschal.
After feeling down about his football fate following the diagnosis, he said his family, friends, and faith "slapped me out of it."
"And that was the opportunity for me to use the mantra that Jimmy V did of "don't ever give up." That just allowed me to keep fighting, because I feel like that mindset, it carries over to everything in life, but it also correlates directly to when you're fighting that cancer."
Now, Paschal could be less than two months away from bringing the Lions their first ever Super Bowl.
"I just feel like as a better, just keep getting better. You want to play your best football going into January. So we will just be able to keep growing each and every week, keep performing. Both sides are playing great – we let up way too many points this past game, so we gotta bounce back. But all that matters with a team like us is how we bounce back."
The Detroit Lions are battling a number of injuries, and their Super Bowl aspirations face a grim reality. But star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson could change the team's fortunes.
Hutchinson had surgery in October to repair a fractured tibia and fibula after he sustained a gruesome leg injury during the second half of the Lions' 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys Oct. 13.
Despite the nature of his injury, Hutchinson said Wednesday he’s on track to return in time for a Super Bowl appearance.
"I’m on track for my goal of returning for the Super Bowl," Hutchinson said on "The Squeeze" podcast. "I keep telling all the boys when I see them in the facility. I’m like, `You guys just got to get there, and I promise you, I’m going to be back.'"
Hutchinson added that when questioned by his mom over the reality of him recovering in time, he responded, "There’s no other way."
Hutchinson is one of six defensive starters who have been sidelined since Week 1. And more than 20 players have been added to injured reserve during the season after last week’s tough loss to the Buffalo Bills.
But head coach Dan Campbell said Monday the team isn’t making excuses.
"Nobody cares," he said on Monday. "Nobody is going to give us a pass or put an asterisk next to your record."
The Lions had an 11-game win streak snapped in a narrow loss to Buffalo. They finish out the season with games against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings.
The Dan Campbell-led Detroit Lions mounted a strong comeback attempt in a game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday. But NFL MVP candidate Josh Allen, who was responsible for four touchdowns in the game, proved to be too much for the Lions to overcome.
While the 48-42 loss to the Bills represented the Lions' second loss of the season, it did not oust Detroit from the top spot at the top of the NFC. The Lions and Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 16 with a 12-2 record.
But the Lions did not reach 12 wins without their fair share of adversity on the injury front.
Multiple Lions players sustained what appeared to be serious injuries during Sunday's game. Campbell addressed the team's tough circumstances during his regular appearance on Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket. At one point during the conversation, an impassioned Campbell let some profanity slip.
"You know, what happens is you get used to eating filet — and I’m talking all of us — and everything’s good," Campbell said. "Life’s good, but you forgot what it was like when you had nothing and you ate your f------ molded bread. It was just fine, and it gave you everything you needed. Sometimes you gotta get punched in the mouth and remember what it used to be like to really appreciate where you are, and we’ll do that.
"We got a bad taste in our mouth. We got kicked around the other day. We lost a few guys. And you know what? It’s exactly what we needed. This is exactly what we needed."
Campbell also said he doesn't care how the Lions win, as long as his team has more points than its opponent at the end of a game.
"And I don’t give a crap whether we gotta win by one point for the rest of the year, that’s what we’re going to do," Campbell added. "And I’m going to be happy about it. We come out of the game with 50 yards of total offense, and we win by one? You’re going to see smiles on my face. I promise you.
"If it’s the other way, defensively we give up 700 yards, and we win by one point, you’re going to see a f------ smile from my ear to ear, all right? I can promise you. So, we’re going to find a way, and we’re going to get it done."
In October, star defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson fractured his left tibia and fibula. The injury will likely sideline him for the remainder of the regular season, but he could return to action in February should the Lions advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
"We’re going to miss him, man," Campbell admitted. "He’s another one of these guys that got us to this position — helped get us to where we’re at. And the rest of us, we owe him to keep going and make sure that wasn’t in vain."
Injuries will keep defensive lineman Alim McNeill and defensive backs Carlton Davis and Khalil Dorsey on the sideline the rest of the season. Campbell also confirmed that running back David Montgomery is lost for the year due to an MCL injury.
"Sonic" is going to have to finish the 2024 NFL season without "Knuckles."
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced that star running back David Montgomery will need season-ending surgery to repair a torn MCL suffered in the 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
That leaves Jahmyr Gibbs as the only featured back now, with Craig Reynolds likely to spell him the rest of the way.
It was initially reported that Montgomery was out indefinitely with his injury, though it left the idea that he could return at some point this season up in the air.
"We're going to miss him," Campbell said.
Now, with Montgomery out, Campbell has yet another key Lions player unable to help their chances of reaching the Super Bowl. In fact, they lost more key roster pieces in this game.
Detroit’s injury woes include stud defensive tackle Alim McNeil (torn ACL), cornerback Carlton Davis (broken jaw), who they traded for to shore up the secondary before the NFL deadline, and cornerback Khalil Dorsey (fractured ankle), all of which came in the loss to Buffalo.
At least Davis has a chance of making it back this season, with the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26 a possibility, according to NFL Network.
The Lions have 22 players on the injured reserve, including star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg earlier this season.
Other players out for the year include DE Marcus Davenport (triceps), LB Derrick Barnes (PCL, MCL), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (ACL), and DT Kyle Peko (pectoral).
The next-man-up mentality is something NFL teams live by each season, knowing injuries are a risk every time they step on the field. However, the Lions are going through a brutal spell, and it involves players Campbell and the rest of the team hoped would lead them to the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
They were close last season before blowing a halftime lead to the San Francisco 49ers to ultimately lose in the NFC Championship Game. But the Lions returned many of the same players, while shoring up any holes on the roster to go for it again.
Of course, they still own the No. 1 seed at 12-2 on the year with three games remaining. They've clinched their playoff berth and a chance to get to the "Big Game."
But Campbell is going to have to rally the troops once more, and hope for sustained health on this journey for the remainder of the season.
NFL legend J.J. Watt criticized Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell for his decision for an onside kick early in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
The Lions opted for the onside attempt while down 10 points with about 12 minutes left in the game. Instead, Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins returned the bouncing ball 38 yards to set up a Josh Allen touchdown pass to Ray Davis. Buffalo went back up 17 points.
"It was a 10-point game. With 12 minutes left. I don’t understand," Watt wrote.
"I ‘think’ I could wrestle a small bear, that doesn’t mean I should try it. I love that DC believes in his squad so much that he thinks everything they do will be successful. But onside kicks have a 7% success rate. Trying one with 12 min left while only down by 10 was insane."
The element of a surprise onside kick was nixed to usher in the dynamic kickoff. Teams must declare their intention of an onside kick and can only try it in the fourth quarter. Entering Week 15, only 3-of-41 onside kicks were recovered.
NFL executive Troy Vincent said the competition committee may have to consider options to revive the onside kick because it has become a "dead play."
"I think all has to be on the table," Vincent said. "When we adjusted the kickoff five, six years ago, that also (impacted) the onside kick. You used to have overload, attack blocks, trap blocks that occurred on that play, which was a pretty dangerous play. You can set people up for failures is what we would say.
"I think you have to look at all aspects. You should be able to do that in any quarter. It’s not a surprise onside kick. I think all of those things have to come back to the table. We should explore. Our effort should be to make every single play a competitive play and that includes that play whether it’s first quarter or fourth quarter."
The Philadelphia Eagles proposed an adjustment to onside kicks last year. It would have let teams try a 4th-and-20 from their own 20. If converted, the team would get the ball back.
Josh Allen added to his MVP resume on Sunday as he accounted for four touchdowns in the Buffalo Bills’ 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions on the road.
The Bills moved to 11-3 on the season, while the Lions are now 12-2.
Allen, the MVP frontrunner in Vegas, threw for 362 yards on 23-of-34 passing with two passing touchdowns. But the first two scores for Buffalo in this one came on the ground for Allen, who had 11 carries for 68 yards.
Buffalo got off to a 14-0 start at a tough Ford Field as Allen orchestrated back-to-back touchdown drives in which he scored from one yard out and four yards out, respectively.
Jared Goff and the Lions, though, are one of the best offenses in the league, and you knew they were going to respond somehow.
On the Lions’ third drive, Goff found Tim Patrick after scrambling out of the pocket, and he used his entire wingspan to get the ball across the goal line to make it a 14-7 game.
But James Cook, who had two touchdowns and 105 yards rushing on 14 carries, found the end zone for the first time on the ensuing drive to maintain the gap.
It’s what the Bills did all game long: maintaining the lead despite how many times the Lions scored.
And they got in six times as Goff threw for a whopping 494 yards and five touchdowns on 38-of-59 passing.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, his trusty target, had 14 catches to account for 193 of those yards with a score on a 66-yard catch-and-run, and Jahmyr Gibbs tallied one on the ground and one through the air.
Goff even threw a touchdown to offensive lineman Dan Skipper from nine yards out as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pulled out all the stops to get back into the game.
But Allen and the Bills would reciprocate the scores, with Ray Davis and Khalil Shakir accounting for Allen’s passing touchdowns on the day.
Ty Johnson, Cook’s backup, was also the leading receiver for Buffalo with 114 yards on five catches.
For the Lions, Sam LaPorta had 111 yards on seven catches and Gibbs finished with 83 yards.
A dustup between an overzealous Detroit Lions fan and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during a Week 14 matchup has resulted in serious consequences for the season ticket holder.
Fahad Yousif told CBS News Detroit that he has had his season ticket privileges revoked and been banned from all NFL stadiums after he got into a verbal confrontation with LaFleur before kickoff earlier this month.
"I started trash-talking the other team, so I get that, but I really don't think getting to this level was necessarily warranted," Yousif told the station.
LaFleur appeared to get into a shouting match with Yousif after the presentation of the American flag, which Yousif had been on the field holding. The two were eventually separated by Packers staff and game officials, but the incident left the veteran head coach stunned.
"I’ve never been a part of something like that," LaFleur told reporters after the game. "He was talking junk to our players — giving them the throat-slash sign, and you’re trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face."
Yousif told CBS News that he had been asked to leave the game at halftime, but he found out only recently that he is no longer allowed to be a Lions season ticket holder, despite being one for the last three years.
"It was terrible, I didn't think it was real at first. To completely revoke my tickets and never let me be a season ticket member again, it hurts. It hurts bad."
Yousif said during the interview that he also had been informed that he has been banned from all NFL stadiums until he completes an online code-of-conduct course.
He expressed understanding for having been in the wrong, but added that he believes that the situation has been "blown out of proportion."
Things have gotten close over the last couple weeks, but the Lions are finding ways to win and remain the toughest offense to face in the NFL.
Sam LaPorta has begun to emerge, which is scary after his strong rookie season last year. The Lions have a big test this weekend when they host the Buffalo Bills, who would love to get the bad taste out of their mouths after a loss against the Rams. And the Lions will have their hands full with a Bills offense indoors.
Last week: 1
The Eagles won their ninth consecutive game in a win over the Panthers, tying the longest winning streak in franchise history. However, their streak might have been snapped if Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette held on to what would have been the game-tying touchdown in the final minute.
Jalen Hurts threw for just 108 yards in the win. Saquon Barkley churned out another 124 yards on 20 carries. The Eagles next play the Steelers and are going to have to play a lot better than they did against Carolina to beat Pittsburgh.
Last week: 3
It’s the same story, different week. The Chiefs are either wizards or just illusionists. A last-second field goal to secure the division title in primetime looked as routine as ever, and the team has still shown no urgency. They’re doing the bare minimum to get by every week, yet that’s enough to put them above just about everyone else.
Last week: 4
The Bills had a bit of a letdown this week, particularly on defense, against the Los Angeles Rams. But Josh Allen continues to play at an MVP level, so that’s the good news. The loss doesn’t change the fact that Buffalo is the best team in the AFC despite being two games behind the Chiefs.
Last week: 4
After some disappointing games over the last few weeks, the Vikings were not going to let the struggling Kirk Cousins have a successful revenge game. Sam Darnold turned back the clock to earlier this season, but we'll see if that type of play is here to stay.
Last week: 7
The Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns Sunday for a second straight win. The victory also padded Pittsburgh’s lead in the AFC North. Russell Wilson’s efficiency and a strong defense make the Steelers legitimate championship contenders.
Last week: 5
The Packers should feel no shame losing to the Lions. The Pack held the Lions for 59 minutes and 59 seconds and even had a nice second-half comeback. Had an aggressive Dan Campbell call not gone the Lions' way, who knows what happens? The Packers proved they belong, and it should be interesting to see what they do in Seattle.
Last week: 6
The Ravens were on a bye last week, which gave them a chance to figure out the best approach as they compete for the AFC North division crown. It’s still possible the Ravens knock the Steelers out of first place. Winning close games will likely be a focus for Baltimore down the stretch. The team’s five losses have come by a total of 22 points.
Last week: 8
A competitive loss to the Chiefs means LA was swept by Kansas City again, and Jim Harbaugh hasn’t changed change that. It took the coach five years to lead Michigan over Ohio State. At this rate, Chargers fans might be looking at a similar timetable.
Last week: 9
The Commanders should be fresh coming off their bye week after demolishing the Titans the week before. The Commanders sit at 8-5 and in playoff position. The Commanders control their own destiny too. If they win out, they are guaranteed a spot. Their next four games are against the Derek Carr-less Saints, Eagles, Falcons and Cowboys. While they have already surpassed expectations this season, it would be a disappointment if the Commanders missed the playoffs.
Last week: 11
A big win over a divisional rival has given the Texans a two-game lead in the AFC South as they head into their bye week with some confidence. C.J. Stroud has faced criticism in recent weeks because of his turnovers, but he threw for 242 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville to surpass 3,000 passing yards this season. Star running back Joe Mixon has been the bright spot for the Texans' struggling offense, but Houston is primed to win the division for the second straight year.
Last week: 12
One of the league’s top defenses and a Rookie of The Year-type campaign by Bo Nix has anchored one of the biggest surprises in sports this year. Now everyone will get to see if this Broncos team is built to finish.
Last week: 10
The Cardinals were hoping to even the season series against the Seahawks Sunday, but Geno Smith & Co. had other things in mind. Led by Zack Charbonnet’s 193 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in Glendale, Arizona, Seattle swept its division rival.
In such a tight race, it could mean the difference for a division title. Smith was again efficient, passing for 233 yards and one touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 24-for-30 through the air.
Last week: 13
They have spurts of looking good, and that's what suggested they were going to dismantle the Raiders last week. They lost focus for a bit, and the game was closer than it really needed to be.
Last week: 14
Talk about a big win at home over a tough opponent. The Buffalo Bills were riding high when they hit the West Coast, but Rams head coach Sean McVay had an answer for MVP frontrunner Josh Allen, and Matthew Stafford worked it to perfection.
Once again, Puka Nacua became Stafford’s safety blanket in the 44-42 victory, collecting 12 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns, one on a carry. Cooper Kupp also added a touchdown and five receptions for 92 yards as Stafford went 23-for-30 for 320 yards. With the Seahawks beating the Cardinals, the Rams jump into second place in the division, one game behind Seattle, who they will see in Week 18 to potentially determine the NFC West winner.
Last week: 16
Injuries galore in the backfield, the 49ers were hoping Isaac Guerendo, the rookie third-string back, could carry the load with the Bears coming to the Bay. Mission accomplished.
Guerendo scored twice on 15 carries for 78 yards, while Brock Purdy was lethal, going 20-for-25 for 325 yards with two touchdowns, both of which went to Jauan Jennings. George Kittle had his best game of the season with six catches for 151 yards. It was a must-win for the 49ers to remain in the playoff hunt. Though they are 6-7 and at the bottom of the division, there’s still a chance.
Last week: 18
It was the perfect start to the game when Michael Wilson found the end zone on a Kyler Murray pass to jump ahead against the Seahawks, the team the Cardinals knew they had to beat in this tight divisional race. But Arizona’s defense had no answer for Seattle’s run game with Zach Charbonnet.
He took a lead role with Kenneth Walker III out due to injury, collecting 193 scrimmage yards, 134 of which were on the ground. With Murray throwing two crucial interceptions despite his two touchdown passes, the Cardinals lost 30-18 and need to continue fighting with four games remaining to secure a playoff spot.
Last week: 15
Miami kept its season alive with an overtime victory over the New York Jets, but that’s not a reason to celebrate. The Dolphins probably need to win out to make the playoffs, and they’ve got the Texans and 49ers in the next two weeks.
Last week: 20
While the Bengals have had a considerable amount of bad breaks this season, they did benefit from a punting debacle Monday night. Even Cincinnati’s much maligned defense was able to make some key stops in critical moments in the game against the Dallas Cowboys. The star-crossed Bengals will look to win a second consecutive game Sunday when they take on the Tennessee Titans.
Last week: 21
Coach Raheem Morris has to be thinking about switching from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr. But that's a move that cannot be taken back once it's made this season. It would be unfair to the rookie.
Last week: 17
Anthony Richardson is back and better than ever, and the Colts have proven themselves to be a fourth-quarter team. But snapping a three-year playoff drought will be the biggest test. Denver hosts the Colts after both teams return from a bye week. A win by the Colts could bump the Broncos out of the final AFC spot.
The Cowboys looked like they were going to have a chance to win their third straight game and keep their faint playoff hopes alive. They forced Joe Burrow and the Bengals to punt, keeping the game 20-20 as they were set to receive the ball just after the two-minute warning. Things looked even better when the Cowboys blocked a punt, because they would have given themselves great field position.
Instead, Amani Oruwariye made an inexplicable decision to try and field the punt. Oruwariye couldn’t field it cleanly, the Bengals recovered and promptly scored the game-winning touchdown. A brutal loss for the Cowboys.
Last week: 22
Darren Rizzi is 3-1 as the interim coach and still believes his team might be a factor in the final month. That's solid work that will surely earn the longtime assistant an interview for the head job after the season.
Last week: 24
After losing their previous three games by a combined seven points, they fell to an injury-riddled, albeit hungry, San Francisco 49ers team by 25. It was the worst the offense has looked in some time, and the defense didn't fare much better.
Last week: 23
Jameis Winston has proven to be a spark at times this season. But he’s also had issues when he is under duress in the pocket, especially during the Browns' latest game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Browns have already been eliminated from playoff contention. The franchise will have to find a solution at the quarterback position.
Last week: 25
Bryce Young has still not earned the full endorsement of coach Dave Canales as the QB for next season, but everyone sees what's coming. He's the guy, barring a collapse the final month of this season.
Last week: 27
The Jets were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a loss against the Dolphins Sunday. They went from talking about making a Super Bowl run in the preseason to having their postseason dreams end with four games to play. Talk about a huge failure.
Last week: 26
The Patriots were one of six teams with a bye in Week 14, so not much has changed. New England has a bright future, but it starts next year. The good news (for next year) is that the Patriots have two games left against Buffalo, plus the Cardinals and Chargers. They’re still in play for the No. 1 overall pick.
Last week: 29
The Titans allowed the woeful Jaguars without their starting quarterback to beat them 10-6, officially eliminating the Titans from the playoffs. The next big question that will be answered is if first-year coach Brian Callahan will return next season.
Last week: 28
The Jaguars picked up their first win since October and moved up in the AFC South with a narrow victory over the Titans Sunday. They face a smooth road ahead against three teams already eliminated from the playoffs.
Last week: 30
The Raiders had a few weeks when they looked competitive but fell a notch back this week against Tampa Bay. Raiders fans are one week closer to games being over and draft conversations picking up.
Last week: 31
The Giants have lost eight in a row, and the end of the season can’t come soon enough. The team was eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago, and it is playing for the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. Graham Gano’s blocked kick that would have sent the game to overtime might be a blessing in disguise because the loss gets the team one step closer to potentially securing its next franchise quarterback.
All the Detroit Lions do lately is win football games.
The Dan Campbell-led Lions knocked off the Green Bay Packers to secure an NFL-best 12th win Thursday night. Campbell's fourth down gambles helped lift Detroit to a 34-31 victory.
The fourth-year Lions head coach elected to keep the offense on the field on fourth down five times. But the fifth time in the fourth quarter proved to be the most crucial. Although quarterback Jared Goff tripped during the handoff exchange with running back David Montgomery, the Lions still managed to put Lions kicker Jake Bates in position for a 35-yard field goal attempt.
Bates split the uprights as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
A fired up Campbell addressed the team in the home locker room after the game.
"I told you you’d never forget this f------- game," Campbell said as Lions players cheered. "We don’t have to talk about how tough we are. We don’t have to talk about how resilient we are. We f------ live it man. We’ve been living it!"
At one point during Campbell's fiery victory speech, he noticed Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper was leaning over one of the locker room's trash cans. Skipper took over the Lions starting left tackle duties Thursday in place of the injured Taylor Decker.
"There you go, Skip! Keep throwing up, keep doing whatever you’re doing over there," Campbell said. "That’s a way to freakin’ lay it on the line."
Skipper delivered a solid performance, allowing just one pressure on 44 pass blocking plays.
While the Lions have won 12 of 13 games this season, the team has faced its fair share of adversity with injuries.
In October, star defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson fractured his left tibia and fibula. The injury will likely sideline him for the remainder of the regular season, but he could return to action in February should the Lions advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.
"I'm so freaking proud of you. That’s the way to show up," Campbell said. "You talk about pressure? We live in pressure. That’s where we freaking thrive. You did it again. It doesn’t matter who’s playing for us. It doesn’t matter what’s going on.
"You always find a way to win. This has been in the making, man. This has been in the making. We were all supposed to be here together, man. We’re destined for this. Just stay the course."
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was not happy with the unsportsmanlike conduct he saw from a Detroit Lions fan on the field right before Thursday night’s kickoff at Ford Field in Detroit.
LaFleur appeared to get into a shouting match with a man that appeared to be on the field to help hold up the American flag during the national anthem prior to kickoff. The two were eventually separated by Packers staff and game officials, but the incident left the veteran head coach stunned.
"I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike. I’ve never seen that. I’ve been on many fields and usually they police that much better. I thought it was an arrogant fan that wanted to get in part of the action," he said.
"I would like to see security or something step in there and get him out of there because he shouldn’t be doing that."
The Packers will go on a mini-bye before traveling west to play the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 15.
Green Bay has struggled in divisional play this season, going 1-3 with Thursday’s 34-31 loss to the Lions. Still, they remain in good shape to earn a wild-card playoff berth due to their 8-1 record against non-NFC North opponents.
Dan Campbell sure knows how to keep things interesting - but it worked out on Thursday night.
Campbell's aggressive coaching gave the Detroit Lions a 34-31 walk-off victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The Lions took a 17-7 lead into the half, but the Packers cut the deficit with their first drive out of the locker room after Tucker Kraft scored. On the ensuing drive, Jared Goff threw a rough interception in his own end, and the Packers took advantage by ending the next drive with Josh Jacobs' second touchdown of the night to take a 21-17 lead at the snap of a finger. Goff, though, marched down the field, and he found Tim Patrick in the painted area to regain a three-point lead.
Late in the third, the Lions did what they usually do - be aggressive. But going for it on 4th and 1 from their own 31 didn't work out, and the Packers were inside the 10 to kick off the fourth quarter. Jacobs quickly had his third touchdown of the night, and the Packers led, 28-24.
But it's hard to quit on the Lions, and Tim Patrick had his second touchdown of the night to get Detroit back up three points.
The Packers kicked a field goal with just under four minutes left to tie the game, but the Lions offense did what they normally do and got inside the 20. However, Dan Campbell did Dan Campbell things, going for it on 4th and inches in what was a huge risk. This time, it worked out, and with Green Bay out of timeouts, Jake Bates was able to walk it off from 35 yards out.
It's now an 11-game winning streak for the Lions, the longest in team history - they are now back in the playoffs for a second consecutive year. It's the first time making the playoffs in back-to-back years since they did so from 1993 to 1995.
Goff was 32-for-41 for 283 yards and three touchdowns, and Jameson Williams led the way with 80 receiving yards. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 94 yards on the ground, with each finding the end zone once.
Apparently, though, a fan in a Brian Branch jersey took it a bit too far, to the point LaFleur told him to "shut the f--- up."
Several Packers players and referees intervened before the fan walked away, excited about what had just happened.
Fans holding the flag took their phones out to record the argument.
And it wasn’t an ideal start for the Packers once the game actually started.
A defensive penalty on a third and goal gave the Lions a fresh set of downs, and David Montgomery ran in for a score on the game’s first drive. After Detroit made it 10-0, the Packers cut into the lead with a Josh Jacobs touchdown in the second quarter.
The Lions took a 17-7 lead into the locker room, but the Packers scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives and benefited from a costly Jared Goff interception to lead 21-17.
The Lions and Packers have combined to go 20-4 this season and are first and third in the division, respectively. Detroit is looking to set a franchise record with its 11th straight victory.
Both teams earned home victories on Thanksgiving.
The Lions defeated the Packers last month, 24-14, at Lambeau Field.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams took a costly penalty in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears.
With the Lions driving into Bears territory, Williams was shoved out of bounds after a catch and then flipped the ball at a player on the Bears sideline.
Williams was flagged 15 yards for taunting, and the penalty proved costly as kicker Jake Bates missed the 45-year-field goal that would have put the Lions up 26-13 at the time.
That missed field goal was crucial in spurring the Bears’ attempted comeback, as they scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession after the missed field goal.
A reporter asked Lions head coach Dan Campbell after the game about Williams’ taunting penalty, as the wide receiver was benched for the rest of the game following the penalty.
"I’ll be honest with you, that’s already cleaned up. It’s already cleaned up. So we’re good and, as a matter of fact, you know, Jamo got right in front of the team a minute ago, unsolicited, and wanted to apologize to his teammates. That’s big man, that’s growth, and it’s all good," Campbell said.
Campbell hopes Williams’ apology will turn into no more taunting penalties, as the third-year wide receiver is a big part of the Lions' high-octane offense. Williams has caught 34 passes for 630 yards and four touchdowns over 10 games this season.
Williams had five catches for 28 yards in addition to rushing for 18 yards during the Lions Thanksgiving Day win.
But Williams has been caught up in a number of incidents both on and off the field. In October, Williams was involved in a traffic stop while in a car that his brother was driving. A gun registered to Williams was found in the car, but he did not have a concealed-carry permit. His brother did, however.
Williams was not arrested, and prosecutors in Michigan announced this week that he will not face charges.
He also served a two-game suspension this season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, which followed a four-game suspension he served last season for violating the league’s gambling policy.
The Lions have won 10 straight games and are 11-1, sitting atop the NFC North standings. Their next game is another divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
Fox News Digital's Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
The Detroit Lions were enjoying some turkey after taking down their NFC North-rival Chicago Bears, 23-20, on Thanksgiving Day.
Detroit made some history in the process, going 11-1 for the first time in the franchise’s history. The Bears fell to 4-8 on the season.
Another milestone was reached for this great Lions team, as their defensive efforts kept the Bears scoreless in the first half. It was the first time this season the Lions had shut out a team in the first half.
Meanwhile, quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions’ electric offense put up 16 points, though they were limited in the red zone by their standards as kicker Jake Bates notched three field goals in the first half to account for nine of the 16 points.
Tight end Sam LaPorta, who scored two touchdowns for the Lions, collected his first in the second quarter as Goff threw a laser to him from three yards out to make it 10-0 at the time.
In the second half, though, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and his offense turned things around, as their opening drive resulted in a Keenan Allen touchdown from 31 yards out, as the rookie signal caller put it right on the wide receiver's numbers and Allen ran it into the end zone.
But the Lions quickly responded, using over seven minutes of clock for LaPorta to find the end zone once more after Goff ran a perfect play-action pass that left the tight end wide open for the score.
Williams and the Bears didn’t back down, however, as they marched 70 yards for Allen to get into the end zone again to keep the Lions’ lead at 10 after a failed two-point conversion.
Then, after Bates missed his first field goal of the game, the Bears took advantage of the great field position as Williams threw a dime to wide receiver D.J. Moore for a touchdown down the left sideline from 31 yards out to make it a three-point game.
The Bears were able to get the ball back again with three minutes left, but a perfect punt left Chicago at the one-yard line to make it as hard as possible to get a chance to at least tie the game.
But one of the weirdest endings to a game in recent memory came when Williams was sacked to make it third-and-26, leaving 30-plus seconds on the clock. Williams lost track of time, however, and took way too long to get the play off, ultimately launching a prayer to wide receiver Rome Odunze that fell incomplete to end the game.
Even more weird was head coach Matt Eberflus still having a timeout in his pocket. Knowing his quarterback was taking too long, he could have used it to preserve time — but the Bears found yet another improbable way to lose.
In the box score, the "Sonic & Knuckles" backfield of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs put in work against the Bears’ defense to once again lead the way for the Lions' offense.
Gibbs needed only nine carries to tally 87 yards on the ground, while Montgomery had 21 carries for 88 yards.
Goff went 21-of-34 for 221 yards, with wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the pack with 73 yards on five receptions.
Meanwhile, Williams turned up in the second half, finishing with 256 yards with his three touchdown passes. Allen had 73 yards, while Moore finished with 97.
The first Thanksgiving Day NFL game had a commercial that was a blast from the past, and many were feeling nostalgic on social media.
Oscar Mayer had an idea for the Detroit Lions-Chicago Bears game on Thursday as they ran a 50-year-old ad with its iconic jingle so many know and love.
The 1974 ad that captivated the country had then-4-year-old actor Andy Lambros fishing off a dock somewhere with a sandwich in one hand as he started to sing:
"My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R. My bologna has a second name, it’s M-A-Y-E-R."
After seeing the ad pop up during the game, many took to social media to explain how happy they were to hear the jingle and see the ad that took over the ‘70s and ‘80s.
"Best commercial ever! So glad to see it again on TV!!" one X user posted.
Oscar Mayer has leaned on jingles in the past, including "Oh, I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer Wiener."
But the story behind Lambros getting his time to shine when the commercial aired in 1974 was that it wasn’t even supposed to happen in a solo act.
Oscar Mayer had called for a group of children singing the jingle, but near the end of the shoot, the director challenged the kids to see if they could do it as a solo, per Inc.com.
Lambros stepped up and hit it, even asking, "How’s that?" at the end while taking a bite of the sandwich.
Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family, and this ad, with the dust brushed off, brings back tons of memories for many as they enjoy their time watching some football.
Thanksgiving Day wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a full slate of NFL games.
The football tradition returns with the main course: the Detroit Lions, who host the Chicago Bears on Thursday afternoon. The Lions have played every year dating back to 1934 and hope to pick up their first Turkey Day win in nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, who have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1966, return to take on their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. The Green Bay Packers close out the day against the Miami Dolphins, who put a stamp on the holiday last season when they defeated the New York Jets to win the league’s first-ever Black Friday game.
For an extra serving of football, the NFL has scheduled another Black Friday matchup, this time between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Read below for more on this year’s Thanksgiving schedule.
The Lions open Thursday’s slate with a game against the Bears at home in what will be the organization’s 85th game on Thanksgiving Day since 1934. The Lions are 0-3 against the Bears in their last three meet-ups on the big day, and they haven’t won a Thanksgiving Day game since 2016. But this year could be different.
Detroit is 10-1, having won every single game since their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Bears are hoping to tap into their previous luck and end their five-game slide.
With injuries plaguing the Lions this week, the player to watch will be star running back David Montgomery as he faces his former team. The Bears, who have lost three of their last five games on the final play, won’t have room for error if they want to stop the Lions’ stellar run game.
The Cowboys host the struggling Giants at home on Thursday, but it’s not the home-field advantage fans are expecting to see.
Despite winning 14 of their last 15 matchups, the Cowboys are 0-5 this season at AT&T Stadium, and a win in what will be the organization’s 57th Thanksgiving Day game could be exactly what they need to keep building momentum after snapping a five-game losing streak with a win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The Giants enter Thursday’s matchup with more questions surrounding the quarterback position even after releasing Daniel Jones last week. Fan-favorite Tommy DeVito walked away from his first start this season with a sore throwing arm. He is questionable for Thursday, while Drew Lock readies for what could be his first start this season.
When: Thanksgiving Day, 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium
Where to watch: FOX
The Packers headline Thursday’s slate with a prime-time match up against the Dolphins in what could be freezing temps. The weather forecast for Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field is expected to be in the 30s with lows in the mid-20s, but the cold weather comes amid a hot streak for Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Big wins over the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders saw Tagovailoa throw seven touchdown passes without an interception, and now the team is in the hunt for its fourth straight win and a spot in the playoffs.
But the Packers have won their last three matchups against the Dolphins and are looking to make it four with their second consecutive Thanksgiving game. Green Bay is 4-0 against AFC teams this season.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell appeared to shade the NFL during a press conference this week when pointing to the apparent hypocrisy of the league’s rules on touchdown celebrations.
The NFL has come down hard on celebrations in general this season, with several players being fined for making violent gestures, or finger gun celebrations, during games.
Obscene gestures during touchdown celebrations are another sore spot for the league, and Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was one of the more recent examples.
During the Lions' Week 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Williams scored a touchdown early in the third quarter to give Detroit a 35-6 lead. Williams ran toward the goal line before falling into the end zone backwards, grabbing his crotch while facing a Jags’ defender – a tribute to Marshawn Lynch.
Williams was reportedly hit with a fine of $19,697 for making an obscene gesture, but it didn’t stop the league from using the touchdown celebration on its social media pages.
During a press conference on Monday, Campbell was asked about his thoughts on his team’s creative celebrations this year. Williams was not mentioned by name either by the reporter or Campbell, but the coach’s comments seemed to reference Williams' touchdown.
"Well, it depends on what that is – whether the league lets it happen, right? They’ll use whatever they need to – the content, but…
"I don’t really get caught up in it. I tell our guys, ‘Hey, as long as you don’t cost us 15,’" he continued. "I’m good with whatever they do. So they have fun with it, they are creative, they like to push the boundaries of whatever those are. I know our guys have fun with it and I think that’s important. They enjoy it, so it’s all good."
Williams has been dealing with issues off the field as well. In October, Williams was involved in a traffic stop while in a car that his brother was driving. A gun registered to Williams was found in the car, but he did not have a concealed-carry permit. His brother did, however.
Williams was not arrested and prosecutors in Michigan announced this week that he will not face charges.
He also served a two-game suspension this season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. This follows a four-game suspension he served last season for violating the league’s gambling policy.
When asked about the situation and Williams' repeated offenses in the league on Tuesday, Campbell said he does believe Williams is learning from his mistakes.
"I think he does. I think every one of these that come up, you don’t want them to come up, but I do think he’s learning, and he’s growing from these – I do."
