Dan Campbell Was Far Too Stubborn Against Eagles

The most glaring example came in the second quarter, when Campbell dialed up a fake punt deep in Detroit’s own territory. The result was predictable: Philadelphia stuffed it, gained prime field position and cashed in with a 34-yard field goal from Jake Elliott. 

But, the fake itself wasn’t the problem so much as the context. Detroit’s offense had not shown any semblance of functionality to that point, yet Campbell treated the game as if he were operating from a position of momentum rather than desperation. That disconnect in feel set the tone for several more erroneous decisions.

Campbell’s fourth-down choices were particularly detrimental. 

There’s aggressive, there’s calculated and then there’s simply disregarding what the game situation is dictating. 

Late in the third quarter and trailing, 13–6, the Lions faced a fourth-and-3 at the Philadelphia 45-yard line. It came at a crucial point in the Week 11 contest: convert and Detroit keeps its hopes alive; fail and the Eagles take over near midfield again and gain a prime opportunity to take a two-score lead. 

Campbell opted to go for it for the fifth time. And instead of relying on the Lions’ powerful run game spearheaded by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, he dialed up a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown which fell incomplete.

It was the wrong call at the wrong moment. 

By then, Goff had shown no rhythm, and the offense had displayed no flow. 

Nothing about Detroit’s passing attack suggested it was capable of handling a high-leverage situation. A punt would have pinned Philadelphia deep, given the defense another chance to make a stop and bought the Lions valuable time. 

Instead, the failed attempt handed the Eagles a short field, and they responded with another Elliott field goal that extended the lead to 16–6, effectively sealing the game.

What makes the performance even more frustrating for Detroit is how well its defense played.

Kelvin Sheppard’s unit limited Jalen Hurts and the Eagles to 272 total yards and a measly 3.9 yards per play. It forced seven Braden Mann punts, clogged running lanes and prevented Philadelphia from executing many big plays. 

On most nights, that type of defensive outing is enough for the Lions to win. However, football is complementary, and Detroit’s offense did not hold up its end of the bargain.

Campbell’s unwillingness to adjust was the central factor. 

It wasn’t just that the Lions failed repeatedly on fourth down; it’s that the attempts often came at moments when the situation called for a different approach. 

On Sunday night, Detroit didn’t lose because Campbell was aggressive; it lost because he was stubborn.

With the loss, the Lions now find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the NFC playoff picture. They’ve dropped to the eighth spot in the playoff standings, a half game behind the 7-4 San Francisco 49ers. 

Furthermore, losses like this raise legitimate concerns. 

Campbell’s boldness has become a signature of the team’s rise to prominence. Yet, in games against elite competition, situational awareness matters just as much as being daring. 

If he fails to find that balance, Detroit will continue to fall short against the league’s best teams and could just miss out on the postseason this season.