Lions Fall on Thanksgiving: Campbell Acknowledges a “Hole”
Detroit is facing a complicated moment after the Thanksgiving Day loss against the Green Bay Packers by 31-24. Coach Dan Campbell admitted that the team is in a difficult situation, with a 7-5 record. Campbell, addressing the team in the locker room, acknowledged the frustration and the need to improve. “We’ve gotten ourselves into a bit of a hole, but that’s all it is. The only thing we have to do is focus on correcting the mistakes and winning the next game,” he stated. This loss marks the eighth in the last nine Lions games on Thanksgiving Day. The team was also affected by key injuries to important players. Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Kalif Raymond, and Graham Glasgow were out on offense, and Amon-Ra St. Brown had to leave the game in the first quarter due to an ankle injury. Campbell estimates that St. Brown could be out of action for one or two weeks. In the absence of St. Brown, Tom Kennedy, from the practice squad, stood out with four receptions for 36 yards. Isaac TeSlaa also scored his third receiving touchdown of the season. Jameson Williams led the Lions’ offense with seven receptions, a career-high 144 yards, and a touchdown.Detroit failed to convert on fourth down on two occasions against the Packers and now has a 0-7 record on fourth downs since Week 11. Campbell, who took over offensive play-calling duties in Week 10, feels that “he can always improve” in that role. The team has lost four of its last seven games since the 2022 season. Campbell concluded: “We didn’t win the game. But as far as the way I wanted to play that game offensively, that was the vision I had. We have to convert.I have to connect with Jamo in the red zone. I have to give him a better throw, and he makes the catch. He could score right there, and the drive could have been over. That’s what will hurt me for a while.
Jared Goff
