• February 13, 2025 9:46 am

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Lions HC Dan Campbell downplays Super Bowl debate: ‘It’s all about this game’ vs. Chiefs

Lions HC Dan Campbell downplays Super Bowl debate: 'It's all about this game' vs. Chiefs


Detroit has scratched, clawed and bit its way into the limelight. Campbell’s company began with a rough three-win season in 2021, but he has scored three straight winning seasons since, the latest bringing Super Bowl expectations to a franchise that had previously dreamed of earning a playoff bid for decades.

That posed a new question for Campbell on Monday: Is it a Super Bowl or a bust for the 2024 Lions?

“Listen, it’s all about this game right now, and look, I’ve said it before, I’ve been to the Super Bowl, I’ve lost and it stinks. So it’s about this week,” Campbell said. “We have to find a way to win this game, this week.”

The Lions got a much-needed rest week by virtue of earning the No. 1 seed. Quarterback David Montgomery, who suffered an MCL injury in Week 15, was the latest setback for the Lions in an injury-riddled season. As Campbell indicated last week, the head coach confirmed that Montgomery will return on Saturday.

“He’s a composer,” Campbell said. “There will be room for him in this game so it will be good to have him back.”

The Lions have been battle-tested in 2024 with six wins over playoff teams. Their two losses this season have also come against teams that advanced to the postseason, with the Bucs beating them in Week 2 and the Bills defeating Detroit in a Week 15 thriller. Both of those one-goal losses occurred at Ford Field.

The Chiefs will be a new opponent for the Lions this season. Led by rookie QB Jayden Daniels, Washington advanced after topping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a last-second field goal. The Chiefs come to Detroit hot, riding a six-game winning streak that has included game-winning plays in the final minute of each of the last five of those games.

Campbell made sure the Lions were ready for playoff football starting this week, showing them key moments throughout the Wild Card round and how one game can change everything in January.

Whatever it takes to avoid getting caught up in the spectacle.

“I think they understand what’s at stake,” Campbell said Monday. “I know they watched those games this week and they watched that game last night, and inevitably, I mean I showed the team basically every game, just different situations that came up, a snapshot of what happened. And you just watch what could have cost the team, whether it’s down here, whether it’s a penalty, whether it’s a position, whatever it is, and they’re trashed all week and that’s what is in the playoffs, just doing your job in the heat of the moment and if you do that you give yourself the best chance. If not, the other team is going to have a strong quarterback, they’re playing good offense, good defense, really good coaching, and we have our work cut out for us.”