Derrick Barnes' game-winning interception Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was nearly a month in the making.
Four weeks earlier, he stood dejected after failing to complete what would've been a safety against the Dallas Cowboys. Rather than take quarterback Dak Prescott to the turf at AT&T Stadium, he glanced off the passer.
As a result, Prescott maneuvered and tossed a 92-yard touchdown to CeeDee Lamb.
Fast-forward to Sunday, and that mishap made Barnes' pick all the more sweeter. Speaking on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams Monday, he explained that the moment culminated his journey to avenge his Week 17 mistake.
After facing backlash in the immediate aftermath of that moment, he was able to write his name in Lions' lore four weeks later in Sunday's Divisional Round win by punching the team's ticket to the NFC Championship game.
"It's weird, because it's like, it's the first time it ever happened to me in my career where you get the DM's, you get the comments on your pictures and stuff," Barnes said. "It was like, wow, I've never went through this. I actually had to talk to the older guys, the veterans, Alex Anzalone, my best friend in the league. He was like, 'Man, that's how the game goes. So you've got to tune that noise out.'"
Barnes, whose newborn son was in attendance for Sunday's game, admitted that it was difficult to tune out some of the noise after the loss to Dallas. However, he was unwavering in his efforts to deliver a moment like he did against the Buccaneers.
"I tried for so long, and I did, but it was all on my mind up until this week. I'm gonna make something that that makes me feel proud of myself. Not nobody else, I'm doing it for myself and my teammates and this organization."
Sunday's interception came one play after a defensive miscommunication between he and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. After initially being frustrated with his linebacker, Hutchinson's emotions turned to jubilation when he saw Barnes come down with the game-winning takeaway.
“I was actually mad at him because he didn’t hear, ‘Game.’ I called a game on first down and he didn’t hear me so he didn’t run it, so I looked like an idiot," Hutchinson explained. "I was just yelling at him, and the next play he catches the game winner, I’m like – he made up for it, we’re good, we’re good. I’m so happy, man. He’s one of those guys that just plugs away every day, every day. He deserves the world, and I’m so happy for him. There’s not enough words to describe how happy I am for him, and him having his moment in the biggest game so far of all our careers.”
The effort shown by Barnes is commendable. After all, the third-year defender has had the best season of his career in a campaign that began with his back against the wall.
When the Lions drafted Jack Campbell No. 18 overall, many believed that Barnes would be the odd man out. Instead, he rebounded with a strong training camp and earned the start in the season-opener.
The Purdue product started 13 of his 16 games this season and finished with 82 tackles, five for loss and one sack.
Now, in the biggest moment of the season, he secured the first interception of his career to send the Lions to San Francisco.
“(LB Coach Kelvin Sheppard) Shep, our linebacker coach, it’s crazy. They all had a vision, and we did too," Barnes said after the game. "That’s why you push yourself each and every week, each and every day. Because we know the potential that we have, and we don’t accept anything less. It always has to be a sense of urgency with us. It’s the playoffs. There’s going to be dog fights, there’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be missed tackles, but when you can set that aside and go out and help your team win, it’s amazing. It’s a great feeling. Like I said, I can’t thank myself. I have to thank my teammates and the people who believed in me.”
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