Thanksgiving Defeat: Lions Complicate Their Path
Detroit suffered a painful defeat on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers, with a final score of 31-24. Head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that the team is in a complicated situation, with a record of 7-5. Campbell, addressing the team in the Ford Field locker room, admitted that the chances of winning the NFC North for the third consecutive year have been significantly reduced. Despite the defeat, Campbell urged his players to focus on the next game and find a way to get the victory.The Lions are now 1-8 in their last nine Thanksgiving Day games. The team faced significant injuries, including tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, wide receiver Kalif Raymond, and starting center Graham Glasgow. In addition, star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown left the game in the first quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return. 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, seized the opportunity to shine on offense and special teams. Kennedy, who was promoted to the active roster on Wednesday night, finished the game with four receptions for 36 yards. Isaac TeSlaa also scored his third receiving touchdown of the season, thanks to a 17-yard catch from Jared Goff in the third quarter. Jameson Williams led the Lions’ offense with seven receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, setting a new personal record. Goff lamented not having connected a short pass to Williams on a crucial fourth-down play in the fourth quarter, acknowledging that that mistake could have changed the course of the game. Detroit failed on two fourth-down conversions against the Packers and now has a 0-7 record on fourth downs since Week 11, tying the league record for most attempts without conversions. Campbell, who took over offensive play-calling duties in Week 10, admitted that one can always improve in that role. Detroit, which averaged 28.2 points per game before the match, has lost four of its last seven games, something that hadn’t happened since the 2022 season. Campbell emphasized the importance of converting on third and fourth downs to be successful against strong teams.As I told the team, ‘It’s frustrating, I know. We have a lot to be thankful for even after a loss.’ And look, we’ve dug ourselves a little hole, that’s the bottom line.
Dan Campbell
