The Lions' win over the Chargers last week came with some nervy moments for the fans, including five fourth-down attempts for Detroit's offense. Or, business as usual under Dan Campbell. The Lions have gone for 22 fourth downs this season and 100 in the three seasons since Campbell arrived, both NFL highs.
If all this risk-taking makes your insides churn, Campbell has a solution for you.
"Look, here’s what I would say, because I tell my family this, just wear a diaper before some of these games," Campbell cracked Tuesday on 97.1 The Ticket. "I’ll give 'em an alert and say, ‘Put them on and be ready to roll.’"
Campbell said he "had a feeling going into (the Chargers) game we needed to be aggressive, and I loved our matchup offensively and I just knew our guys would respond." So when the Lions were facing 4th and 2 from LA's 26 in a 38-38 game with 1:47 to go, Campbell left his offense on the field rather than attempting a 44-yard field goal and putting the ball back in Justin Herbert's hands.
"Certainly in that moment, it felt like the right thing to do," he said.
The Lions validated Campbell's decision when Jared Goff hit Sam LaPorta for a first down to set up a game-winning field goal by Riley Patterson as time expired.
"I just knew we needed to be a little more aggressive," Campbell said. "This quarterback over there is a hell of player now, and that was the best game he’s played all season. That guy really showed up and had a day against us. So that’s where the game was going, we needed to score more points, our offense had the big hat and they showed up."
Goff, for his part, had no doubt the Lions would go for it. He's accustomed to Campbell's aggressive decision-making. As soon as they called a short pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown on 3rd and 12 the play prior, "I was pretty certain we were going to go for it on 4th," said Goff, "because the third down was just not going to (be enough)."
"I was like, alright, that probably means we’re going to go for it after this," he said.
Upon conclusion of the game, CBS color commentator and Campbell's former teammate Tony Romo declared the 7-2 Lions have a chance to reach the Super Bowl. Asked about that possibility, Campbell said, "Look, we're no different than anybody else. Ultimately, when you start the season, if you don’t have the end in mind, then what the hell are you doing?"
"Of course that’s where you want to get," he said. "But I know this: You can’t just say, ‘We’re going to go to the Super Bowl and we’re going to win the Super Bowl.’ There’s steps you gotta take to get there and the biggest step is and your odds are the best when you get a home game, you’re seeded the best and things run through you. To do that, man, you gotta win your division. So that’s the focus."
In the meantime, gird your loins.