The’Week 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys could go down as one of the most contentious of the 2023 season. However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell stated that he and his squad are moving on.
Campbell was noticeably furious on the sidelines after a disputed penalty nullified Detroit’s go-ahead 2-point convert, and he remained so during his postgame press conference. But when he spoke to reporters on January 1, he was significantly less emotional.
Campbell explained how the Lions coaching staff and players will approach the rest of the season following the Week 17 sorrow.
“I’ve got a cool head and I’m ready to go.” I’m completely prepared to go. I don’t go the other route. “Neither will the team,” Campbell told the journalists. “We have a mission. We’re not going to bemoan ourselves and wallow in our misery. We had plays to make, but we didn’t. It’s a close game with a good opponent and a playoff atmosphere, and you have to make that one additional play that we didn’t.
“We’ll use it as fuel.” I’m running on pure octane right now. I awoke, and I’m prepared. So we’re making progress.”
The Lions appeared to have taken a one-point lead against the Cowboys with 23 seconds left in regulation in Week 17. On the 2-point conversion try, quarterback Jared Goff connected with left tackle Taylor Decker in the end zone.
However, after finding the convert successful, officials ruled Decker ineligible for the play. The Cowboys won 20-19 after the Lions failed to convert a second 2-point attempt.
Dan Campbell of the Lions calls the loss to the Cowboys a “blessing.”
As Campbell continued on January 1, he referred to the penalty that overturned Detroit’s 2-point convert in Week 17 as “a blessing.” His justification for the term was that the controversy did not occur during the postseason.
During the 2018-19 season, Campbell was an assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints when officials failed to flag pass interference against the Los Angeles Rams late in the NFC Championship Game. It is still one of the most contentious calls in NFL playoff history.
Campbell linked the debate to the Lions’ most recent one.
“Even in that game, we had chances to win before all of that happened,” Campbell said of the NFC Championship Game in 2019. “But that was the end of it.” We walked away, packed our belongings, and then left.
“We got a taste of what that’s like with this one, but we still have a chance.” We haven’t even begun the competition yet, so I consider it a godsend.”
Campbell Dispels NFL Suspicion of Lions
This isn’t the first time the Lions have been in the spotlight. Detroit was defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3 of the 2015 season because referees failed to call an illegal batting penalty on Seattle.
Later that season, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers defeated the Lions with a spectacular Hail Mary at the conclusion of regulation. However, the game-winning Rodgers touchdown was set up by an incorrectly called face mask penalty against Detroit.
Officials threw a flag on a fourth-quarter fourth-down attempt by Detroit during the 2015 playoffs at AT&T Stadium. However, following a conference, officials determined that there was no penalty on the play.
With another dispute in Dallas not going Detroit’s way, Lions supporters have expressed their discontent with the NFL, claiming the league is biased against the Lions.
Campbell disagreed with that story.
“I understand, but I don’t do that.” “Don’t believe it,” Campbell said. “Man, don’t live in that world. It will only drag you down.”
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