The Detroit Lions suffered yet another brutal loss on Thanksgiving and the NFL world was frustrated with head coach Dan Campbell.
The Lions had every chance to go win the game on their final possession. They took the field with three timeouts and 2:40 on the clock. Despite that, the team played for overtime against the Buffalo Bills. They burned a lot of clock on their drive, all the way down to 23 seconds by the time the game-tying kick was made.
This came after a disastrous play call on 3rd down. Detroit only needed to convert a 3rd and 1 in Buffalo territory to extend the drive. Instead, Jared Goff threw a pass that sailed over his intended receiver several yards down the field. So Detroit kicked the game-tying field goal with 23 seconds. It then took one play for Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and the Bills to get into field goal range. The team promptly won the game on a winning kick by Tyler Bass.
Tyler Bass connects from 45 yards out to ice the Bills' win over the Lions on Thanksgiving.
No announcer's jinx on this one, Jim Nantz! pic.twitter.com/7BIzHC0XLs
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 24, 2022
Head coach Dan Campbell has started to take some lumps this season after he gained popularity on Hard Knocks. He offered a surprising response to the critics in his press conference.
Detroit Lions SB Nation blog Pride of Detroit tweeted, “Dan Campbell said he felt good about their time management on the final drive. Said it’s always a tough balance to bleed as much clock as possible to not give enough time to the opponent, but also leave yourself enough time to score a TD.”
Dan Campbell said he felt good about their time management on the final drive.
Said it's always a tough balance to bleed as much clock as possible to not give enough time to the opponent, but also leave yourself enough time to score a TD.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) November 24, 2022
Campbell took the most lumps he’s received lately on Thanksgiving Day after that performance.
They did neither though 🤔
— Bennett Conlin (@BennettConlin) November 24, 2022
Record in 1-score games last 2 years before today:
3-9 Sean McDermott
4-10 Dan CampbellDan gave Sean a gift but if Bills want to go to the SB, they’ll have to win the close ones in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/GVDMEypUgM
— #StopCopCity (@ChuckModi1) November 24, 2022
Dan Campbell loves to be aggressive until things really get consequential.. then he takes that foot all the way off the gas pedal
That was the Vikings game ALLLL over again for detroit
— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) November 24, 2022
Lions should have the lead. pic.twitter.com/aY0XpuZRnJ
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 24, 2022
LIONS FANS: “Our play-calling is the worst in the league, Dan Campbell should be fired right now”
NATIONAL NFL ANALYSTS: “Lost it at the end, but the Lions’ staff coached their brains out today”
— Ty Schalter (@tyschalter) November 24, 2022
Dan Campbell managed to both not use his timeouts effectively AND give the Bills too much time. Impressive in its sheer incompetence.
— John McDermott (@mcdermott) November 24, 2022
I don’t understand how the “Dan Campbell has changed the culture in Detroit” narrative is so strong when the culture is the exact same as it has been for 20-plus years. A losing team that consistently loses winnable games. None of this is new.
— Ross Maghielse (@Maghielse) November 24, 2022
Dan Campbell be losing a lot
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) November 24, 2022
I will forever be flabbergasted by that Lions two minute drive. Game-losing clock management.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 24, 2022
What's even more impressive about Stefon Diggs' catch?
He used his timeout better than Dan Campbell did. #Bills #BillsMafia
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerrCBS) November 24, 2022
