Campbell recap: With playoffs off the table, what Lions coach is looking for in finale
Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell met with the media on Monday, heading into the team’s season finale against Chicago. Here are the highlights from that session.
● On the outside looking in, it’s difficult to find much purpose in this game against the Bears, given the Lions are already eliminated from playoff contention. Still, Campbell and his staff are trying to find ways, both practical and emotional, to find that meaning.
From a practical standpoint, Campbell is still looking for improvement from his roster, hoping some of it will carry beyond this season.
“(I’m looking for) how players play, how they do on the road maybe a second time, how they play at this position, how they handle the pressure, how they handle with nothing to play for,” Campbell said. “There’s a little bit of everything. You could find a lot out.”
While Campbell would like to see a last bit of improvement from every unit, there’s one group that has a little more of his attention.
“I mean there are a lot of areas,” Campbell said. “I’d probably start with the o-line. Just want to see a tick more, just a little bit better, see if we can polish some things up, work together, work our combinations just a little bit. But I can say that for every position, too. I really can. Just like I can say that for us as coaches. I mean we’ve got to collectively all get better.”
In terms of the emotional aspect of the game, the Lions have close to 30 players who will be free agents this March. An NFL roster undergoes changes every offseason, but the Lions' overhaul is tracking toward being more significant this year, so Sunday represents a last time to coach and play with this collective.
“I think there is something to that because it is the last time this group will be together,” Campbell said. “You go through that every year. Certainly, we’re not where we want to be with one left. But, at the same token, this group of guys has laid it on the line, they’ve come to work every day, busted their tails. And so, really, it’s you’ve got one more to not let the guy next to you down. And that’s how I always felt as a player. It didn’t matter how I felt or what I thought, I couldn’t let that guy next to me down. That’s the ultimate motivation.”
● Obviously, with the playoffs off the table, there’s a good chance the Lions will be more shorthanded this week. That’s because there’s less urgency for guys to play through injury.
“I think if we’re sitting there borderline (with an injury), and the player, it could be hard or we think they’re setting themselves up for a long-term risk, then no, it’s not worth it,” Campbell said. “But if it’s that stuff doesn’t feel good and it’s bumps and bruises and it’s — then no, it’s like the next game up.”
That puts the status of players like Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, Penei Sewell, Alex Anzalone and Amon-Ra St. Brown in doubt.
Campbell acknowledged St. Brown is dealing with a knee injury, among other things, but there’s not long-term concern, as it currently stands. He’s day-to-day and expected to be part of a lengthy injury report that comes out Wednesday afternoon.
“If guys can’t go because of injury, then the next guy up will go,” Campbell said. “Young or old — young or veteran, I should say — next best guy available.”
● The last time the Lions played the Bears, it was Week 2 and Detroit cruised to a 31-point victory, scoring a season-high 52. Chicago went on to win 11 of 13 after that defeat, claiming the NFC North crown for the first time since 2018, prior to stumbling against San Francisco on Sunday Night Football this weekend.
“They’re more polished,” Campbell said when asked how the Bears are different from that Week 2 matchup. “They’re a better team. Really, since that time, they’ve led the league in takeaways on defense. I mean they’re getting them. It’s like we talk about, it’s contagious for them. Those guys are getting them in a good way. Got one the other night. Once again, it turned into a touchdown.
“And it’s much more sound,” Campbell continued. “(Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) D.A.’s got his system in, and it’s grown and developed. And they’re keeping teams out of the end zone, keeping the offense ahead.”
Campbell noted Chicago's offense is also operating at a much higher level in Ben Johnson’s scheme.
“They’ve found a run game, play-action pass, (Bears QB) Caleb (Williams)’s playing really well, o-line’s playing really well,” Campbell said. “Got a run game, (Bears RB D’Andre) Swift’s running well, (Bears RB Kyle Monangai) 25, he’s a downhill, hard runner, too. Tight ends are playing good, both of them — really all three of them. So, they’re playing at a high level. They’re doing things well. Much more polished.”