Tag: minnesota vikings

Lions Dan Campbell — fueled with ‘pure octane’ — ready to move past debacle at Dallas

ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell is over it. 

Talk about the referee’s error late in the 20-19 loss at the Cowboys late Saturday is still lingering on television, social media and among fans, but the Detroit Lions coach has moved on. He doesn’t want to talk about it.

Campbell said he is fueled by “pure octane” now. On Monday, he looked more like his typically controlled self, possibly well-caffeinated. 

“I’m good, I woke up yesterday, I’m ready. I’ve got controlled fury, I’m ready to go,’’ Campbell said on Monday. “I’m absolutely ready to go, I don’t go the other way and the team won’t either.’’

He said they’re on a mission and he won’t let the players wallow in the muck. The Lions, winners of the NFC North, have locked up the No. 3 seed and have a very slight chance to move up to No. 2. 

“We had plays to make, we didn’t make them. It’s a tight game, a good opponent, playoff-type atmosphere and you have to make that one extra play that we didn’t. We will use this as fuel,’’ Campbell added. “I got pure octane right now, I’m ready. ”

Instead of feeling sorry, they will use the bad call as motivation starting with Sunday’s game at Ford Field against the Vikings.

When asked, he had a few words for fans who think the NFL is out to get the Lions. “Don’t do that, I know, I get it, but don’t do that. Don’t buy into that, don’t live in that world. That will just pull you down. If it makes you feel better, the NFL is against every team. I’ve been in New Orleans, I know what that feels like,’’ Campbell said. 

He was referring to the Saints’ 2018 conference title loss to the Rams (and Jared Goff) which involved a missed pass interference call. 

“We walked away, even in that game we had chances to win. That ended and that was it. … We packed our bags,’’ Campbell said.

So life goes on, the loss at Dallas was meaningful as far as playoff seeding, but it  wasn’t do or die.

“I think it’s a blessing, I will tell fans, don’t do it, don’t believe that. We’re just getting started,’’ Campbell said.

The players had Monday off and will get back to work on Tuesday. Campbell fully expects their mindset to be in tune with his.

“We built this roster for a reason, they’ll be just fine,’’ Campbell said.

INJURY UPDATES: Campbell expects DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson will get some snaps on Sunday. He hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a torn pec. … Also he hopes to get DT Alim McNeil and FB Jason Cabinda back into action. McNeil (knee) has missed four games while Cabinda (knee) has not played since Week 3.  … WR Jameson Williams tweaked his ankle in Saturday’s game, but Campbell said it’s not significant and called him day to day.

NEXT UP: Minnesota Vikings (7-9) at Lions (11-5), 1 p.m., Sunday on FOX.

Five things to watch as NFC North champ Lions visit the Cowboys; plus prediction

While the Lions are the NFC North champs, now is no time to relax with the No. 2 seed on the line. If Detroit wins out they will be the second seed in the NFC.

First up, at the Dallas Cowboys who have been a perfect 7-0 at home this season and own a 10-5 record. The road warrior Lions (11-4)  are 6-2 away from Ford Field. Kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday – it’s basically Monday Night Football two days early.

“We’re a good road team and we feel good about (playing) pretty much anywhere. We went to Arrowhead earlier this year and won there and there are much harder atmospheres to play in than that. So, yeah, we feel good about going in anywhere and finding a way to win,’’ quarterback Jared Goff said.

Not only are the Cowboys perfect at home this season, but they are 15-1 at AT&T Stadium in the past two seasons.

“I think just – I think the comfort, the comfort of being there and to be able to function, particularly offensively, without the crowd noise,’’ coach Dan Campbell said. “There’s a number of things that they’re able to do – I feel like that opens up things they’re able to do because they don’t have to be on silent cadence, some of the verbal. I just – I think they take full advantage of being home, they do it well.’’

Five things to watch:

1. The Lions have improved their turnover ratio and that must continue. Goff did not throw an interception at the Vikings on Sunday. However, he must keep an eye on Cowboys CB DaRon Bland’s who has eight interceptions with five of those returned for touchdowns this season: “He’s played well, he’s made plays on the ball, he’s got great ball skills. And I think he’s got the NFL record, right, for most taken back? It’s incredible. It’s a good testament to what type of player he is and yeah, has great ball skills,’’ Goff said.

2. With a healthy offensive line, Goff is getting good protection. He was sacked just once in the 30-24 win over the Vikings. The Cowboys have sacked opposing quarterbacks just four times in the last four games — one in each. Detroit’s offensive line ranks fifth in the League in pass protection. 

3. The Lions defense held on to get the division-clinching win at Minnesota plus they had four interceptions and four sacks. Campbell has confidence they can get the job done again. “We talked about getting turnovers in bunches and there we go. And so, this has been the one thing that we’ve been missing and now it showed up. And I feel like it’s not going to go anywhere. I feel like those – between our safeties and our backers and (Brian) Branch, kind of that – man, we’re becoming very disruptive and we’re making a lot of plays,’’ the coach said. “Now, there’s some things in there that showed up. And look, (Vikings WR Justin Jefferson) 18 is what he is. He’s a hell of a receiver, but there’s a couple of things we can clean up on the coverage aspect. But as far as, man playing your keys, being where you need to be, making plays on the football, man we’re doing that and I feel like that’s here to stay.”

4. It’s key for the Lions to get off to a good start, just like most weeks. If the Lions fall too far behind it takes the running game out of the equation. “It goes without saying, you could say it every week, we have to get off to a fast start because that’s where this team excels,’’ Campbell said. “They get going and all of a sudden it snowballs and then you just can’t make up from the mistakes that you may have had earlier in the game.”

5. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons can be a game-wrecker. He lines up on both sides so LT Taylor Decker and RT Penei Sewell will each get a shot at him, along with others. “I think (Sewell’s) the same guy every day. I’m sure he relishes this challenge as does Deck on the other side because, like I said, Micah is going to line up all over the place. He certainly loves this type of matchup because it allows him to showcase what he’s capable of,’’ Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said.

INJURIES: TE Brock Wright (hip) and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson (pectoral) are out; CB Cam Sutton (toe) is questionable. FB Jason Cabinda was elevated from IR, then waived on Friday. 

PREDICTION: Lions 30, Cowboys 27. Call me crazy, but I think the Lions have it in them to get this one.

Lions Dan Campbell says next battle is fighting complacency to win No. 2 seed.

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions checked one box winning the NFC North division with the win over the Vikings on Christmas Eve.

It’s all good, the first division win in 30 years and  it results in, at the very least, a home playoff game.

However, the Lions are not done. If they win out -— at the Dallas Cowboys (10-5) on Saturday and hosting the Vikings (7-8) on Jan. 7 — they will be the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

“At this point now we’re fighting for the 2 seed, if you’re able to get to the one then so be it, but right now what we know we can achieve on our own is the two,’’ coach Dan Campbell said on Tuesday. “That’s no easy task. We have to go to Dallas. They haven’t lost in I don’t know how many games at home.’’

The Cowboys are 7-0 at home this season and 15-1 in last two years. They are coming off two straight road losses — at Buffalo and at MIami.

“It will be loud, but we’re looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing a really good opponent at their place,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions have been road warriors this season with a 6-2 record in away games and 5-2 at home.

Campbell said the biggest opponent right now is satisfaction and complacency.

“That is what we’re going to fight from here on out. They’re going to know that, we’re going to have a meeting in a little bit and we’ve got smart guys, they understand that,’’ Campbell said.

The coach compared it to winning in the postseason.

“It’s really no different than what happens in the playoffs — you win a big game in the playoffs you don’t have time to really enjoy, you have to get ready for the next one,’’ Campbell said. “That’s where we’re at. It’s a great thing, I wish we had more time to enjoy it, but we don’t. We’re off to the next one. We have to want more, we’ve got to stay hungry or we won’t be able to get the next one.’’

INJURY UPDATE: Veteran defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson will practice for the second week, coming off IR. Campbell said they’ll see how he does this week before making a decision on if he will be play on Saturday. … LB James Houston, who is on IR, could start practicing this week but Campbell wouldn’t say it’s a certainty. They could wait another week on him.