The Detroit Lions have turned a new leaf in 2023. They’ve quickly gone from the hunted to the hunters in large part because the team has bought into head coach Dan Campbell’s high-energy and fearless personality. Now, the team plays with a swagger and chip on their shoulder that represents Campbell’s mindset and it’s given him more trust in his players to make bold play-calling decisions on fourth down.
The Lions successfully converted four of their five fourth-down attempts on Sunday, which marks the most in a game in which the Lions have won since at least 2000, according to NFL Research.
Given the way quarterback Jared Goff and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson meshed throughout the season and the dynamic backfield duo the Lions have in running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs attached to one of the more dominant offensive line units in the NFL, Campbell has plenty of reasons to have faith in his offense to convert on fourth down.
Campbell made an appearance on 97.1 FM The Ticket’s Stoney & Jansen show on Tuesday morning and was asked about his willingness to take risks on fourth down and Campbell responded in a way that only he knows how to.
“Here’s what I would say, because I tell my family this, just wear a diaper before some of these games,” Campbell stated, per The Ticket’s Will Burchfield.
As long as the Lions continue to convert on fourth down and it results in them winning games, it is tough to question Campbell’s decision-making process. Campbell and the Lions are 7-2 through the 10 weeks of the season and have put themselves in a position to potentially win the NFC North for the first time since 1993.
‘Just wear a diaper before some of these games,’ Lions HC Dan Campbell says regarding fourth down decisions
