DETROIT (AP) — Dan Campbell has revolutionized the concept of fourth-down territory for the Detroit Lions. The team now boldly goes for it on fourth down from almost anywhere on the field under their assertive coach, whose fearless approach has transformed the culture of the franchise and yielded record-breaking outcomes.
“Our players generally view it as just another play,” Campbell explained. “It’s not seen as a make-or-break situation, but simply the next opportunity.”
Campbell has consistently eschewed field goals or punts, opting to keep his offense on the field a league-leading 151 times on fourth down over the past four seasons. According to Sportradar, he is the sole NFL coach to go for it that many times in a four-year span since at least 1991.
Joking on social media, Holly Campbell recently quipped that punting is the only thing her husband can’t do.
The Lions have become accustomed to Campbell’s daring moves. “On defense, we’re almost expecting them to go for it,” stated safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. “It’s no longer a surprise.”
Campbell granted the Lions a three-day break, starting Friday, before they start preparations to face the NFC’s lowest-seeded team at Ford Field next weekend.
Having led the league in fourth-down attempts in two of his four years, Campbell’s 33 attempts during the 2024 seasons trailed only two teams with nothing to lose: the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
When the Lions posted a 3-13-1 record in Campbell’s debut season, he set an NFL record with 44 fourth-down attempts.
Players appreciate the trust Campbell places in them on these crucial downs, often sidelining special teams and defense during these pivotal moments.
“They’ve gotten to know me over time,” Campbell remarked. “This approach wasn’t sudden. They understand when we’ll go for it and when we won’t. Some games we plan to be more aggressive than others. It just flows that way sometimes.”
The Lions went for it on fourth down five times, converting four, in a 34-31 victory over Green Bay last month, in part to preserve their ailing defense.
Detroit’s opponents are so prepared for fourth-down scenarios that quarterback Jared Goff can occasionally draw them offside with a hard count, as he did in last Sunday’s division-clinching win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Goff stated, “It’s part of our offense. At certain times, we’ll use it and have found success with it.”
Detroit successfully scored or converted a first down on 66.7% of fourth downs this past season, trailing only six other teams in success rate.
Campbell’s strategy typically proves fruitful, with a success rate of over 50% on fourth down over the last four seasons. This reinforces the confidence he has in his players and coaches to validate his decisions.
With players drafted and acquired under general manager Brad Holmes and the coaching staff led
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