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00:00We're ready now. We got the Lions head coach Dan Campbell. Let's go to it.
00:12Dan, good morning. Appreciate some of your time as always.
00:15Good morning.
00:17Let's start with that locker room speech. Felt like you were on another level there.
00:20You know, shorthanded, dramatic finish. Just what were your emotions like as you
00:23guys wrapped up that win against the Packers?
00:26Yeah, I mean, I was pretty fired up. We were all pretty, pretty fired up. I mean, that was,
00:32you know, that's a hard-fought game. We knew it was going to be hard-fought. It was going to come
00:38down to the end. You know, we knew where we were at team-wise. Nobody made any excuses.
00:46You know, we were in the grinder there. I mean, we, that's, you know, whatever that was, four,
00:52or three games in so many days. I mean, we were, you know, and so to be able to pull off
00:57those wins, that being the last one of that kind of tour we were on against a division opponent at
01:03home under the circumstances just made it that much sweeter. So, I mean, I couldn't be more
01:10proud of the guys. I mean, you talk about, you know, fighting through it and pushing and giving
01:15everything they've got and the coaches getting them ready. It was just, it was a hell of a win.
01:20When you, everybody's talking about the fourth down tries, and let's just talk and focus on
01:26the last one that sealed it. It allowed you to set up for a field goal, no time left on the
01:30clock. What type of experiences do you draw from when you're making a decision like that?
01:37Well, I mean, I think everything that I've been through, you know, as a coach,
01:44you know, a lot of those come in, you know, things that happen in New Orleans,
01:48certainly things that have happened here. And then you think about, you know, how the game
01:55has gone. You think about where you're at, where your guys are at, where you feel like you're best
02:01suited to finish the game out. You know, look, if you think you can win the game and you don't
02:07have to worry about anything else after that moment, I'm going to be drawn to that more times
02:13than not, you know, and look, it's not always going to play out like that. And it doesn't
02:19mean I'm always going to go for it in that situation. But, you know, we were under a yard
02:24and I just, I felt like that was the right thing to do in that moment.
02:29Shouldn't more guys go forward on fourth down? Like,
02:31why do you think you are the outlier that you are right now with the aggressive decisions?
02:37Oh, I don't. I mean, I don't know.
02:39Look, well, here's the obvious. What happens when we don't get that? That's the obvious.
02:44Right. Guys are afraid that if they don't get it, they'll get skewered. Is
02:48that maybe part of what?
02:49We're moving to the next house. You know what I mean? So it's, that's why. But it's,
02:56you know, to each his own. And there's plenty of philosophies that have worked in this league. And
03:02you can win a lot of games doing it your way. And I just lean more this way. And it doesn't
03:07mean we're always going to be this way, but that was right for that game.
03:12How much of it is just, it's simply, obviously it's your call to make, but when players come
03:17to you, because I was this way as a player, Russ Grimm, we had a first down or a fourth
03:20down that we wanted to go for. We're down in Indianapolis and I'm, you know, maybe we
03:24called timeout. I'm, I'm jawed up. Hey, we could get this run behind me. I'm sure
03:28Penny Sewell's probably saying the same thing. All of those guys are, I know Jared Goff is,
03:33how much does their confidence level play into your ultimate decision to go for it or not?
03:40Yeah. I mean that, of course that, that plays into it. You know, if I'm, if I feel compelled
03:45to do it and I look out there and Sewell's giving me puppy eyes, which then no, I wouldn't do it.
03:50Yeah.
03:50But Sewell would never do that, first of all. But, but, you know, if I don't feel conviction,
03:56you know, somewhere else, then no, I'm not going to do it. But that's not the case here. And,
04:06but we've also, this is kind of, we've been doing this now for a while. This is,
04:11our guys understand what's at stake and the way that we play more times than not.
04:16And it's not all the time, but they, they understand, you know, they, they've been put,
04:22they've been put in the fire enough to where, you know, they understand these fourth downs and,
04:26and we play pretty good under pressure. You know, we, we do pretty good in pressure moments and,
04:32you know, it's a credit to our players and our coaches, so they're ready for it. And,
04:37you know, it's just a matter of, for me, making sure that I do give them the best opportunity to,
04:43to still have success, you know.
04:46I can't picture Pene Sewell with puppy eyes, for the record.
04:50No, it doesn't exist. You get my point, though.
04:54He looks at me like, oh, I don't think I can block this guy.
04:57It's never going to happen with him. Let's talk about the Bills, right? This is a huge game,
05:02Super Bowl measuring stick. Like, how do you look at this game as you guys prepare for it?
05:08Yeah, I mean, it's the next one. It really does. I mean, that's, that's how you look at it. It's,
05:13it's an excellent opponent, you know, who just went out to the,
05:17the Rams and put up a heck of a fight, you know, high scoring game and, and came away with a loss.
05:24And they've been playing really, really good football. And so, you know, they're,
05:28they're going to be motivated to get back on the winning track. And, you know, they,
05:34they play really good defense. They, they've got weapons on offense. Of course, Josh Allen
05:39makes the whole thing go. I mean, he is, he is his biggest weapon that you're going to find at
05:44the quarterback position from a run and pass standpoint. So this is, you know, this is going
05:51to be one of those, this is a top-notch, this is a top-notch opponent, man. And, and look,
05:56we've been in it though. I mean, we just, that's what Green Bay was. Green Bay's a dang good team.
06:01This might be an impossible question to answer, but, you know, when you're thinking about Josh
06:05Allen and the weapon that he is, and you're right, I mean, he's the one that stirs the drink over
06:10there. What concerns you more, his arm or his legs? Yeah, I mean, both. Look, I think the,
06:19what's hard for him is the, the obvious, right? I mean, he can push the ball down the field. He can
06:24sit in the pocket, find the throw, but then, you know, you, if, if you want to play a certain type
06:29of coverage and cover down for a minute, there's those times where he's just buying time to where
06:34the coverage are clear out so he can take off. Like he's smart enough to understand all those,
06:40he knows exactly what he's doing and he'll just wait for that lane. And then he, and then he
06:46takes off. So I think it's, of course, you got to be able to cover down tight coverage
06:52because he's an accurate passer, but then, you know, you turn your back on this guy and, and
06:58he's right through the defense for 20. So we're going to have to be so disciplined in our rush
07:03lanes this week. You know, we're going to have to really close it in. We can't have guys sell
07:08out to go get a sack. Like you, we have to be very disciplined and cage him in as best we can.
07:15Is he the MVP of the league at least so far? That's kind of the way most people talk about him.
07:21You know what? I haven't seen every game of him versus everybody else. I mean,
07:26I can't imagine he's not certainly in that debate. I mean, he's, he's played
07:31this is as good a season as I can remember out of him and he's had good seasons every year.
07:38But I think he, he's doing an excellent job taking care of the football, playing within
07:42the system. And then when they need him, you know, to become Superman, he shows up and that's,
07:47that's why he's, he's in that debate. You've had so many guys step in, guys that weren't even on
07:53the roster practice or otherwise to start the season because of the injuries, especially on
07:59defense. Who is it that you feel has really stepped in and I don't know, maybe surprised
08:05you or played the best that has had to step in for an injured player? Wow. Shoot. Well, I mean,
08:16look, I probably, if you're, if probably O'Connor, I mean, you know what he did the other day, he,
08:25once we got him up and going, and that's why he's here. This is why we wanted him on our team.
08:30And even though he was on the bed squad, we, we knew we were going to need him at some point. And,
08:36and once we were able to get him going you know, he's been a valuable, you know, really backup
08:44piece for us role player. He's really helped us out. Well, then we have these injuries and he
08:51essentially starts for us in this game. And I mean, he was highly productive for us.
08:57You know, he was, he run and pass game and you know, he played the nose, he played the big end.
09:04There's just, there's a number of things he did for us that, that he really showed up, you know,
09:10and he just battled in there, but sheer will, he's got a quick first step. He's strong and he gets
09:18on him, you know, he gets on guys. So, I mean, I, he would probably be the one player that a lot
09:24of those guys came in and help, but I thought O'Connor played really, really well. Buzz on
09:29social media. You guys are going to wear the black jerseys against the bills. Can you confirm that?
09:34Uh, who said that social media buzz? All right. Well, social media is always right.
09:40Reliable sources. I figured we got the coach. We can get his thoughts on it, but yeah,
09:44you guys haven't made the decision then, or it's just not public.
09:46Uh, I think the decision was made back in May. There's a chance we'll have black or blue
09:54or gray or white. Thank you for the clarity. Hey, Dan, before we get you out of here,
10:00did John text you about what came up on the show last week?
10:02Oh no, I'm not going to bother him during the season.
10:07No, no.
10:08The people think you're hot. Have you noticed that?
10:11Oh, come on.
10:13Don't do this.
10:14Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Dan. That's all. I, this is an off season conversation where
10:20maybe I can make you feel comfortable at that time, but no,
10:23Dan, we appreciate you as always.
10:25All right. I appreciate you guys. Have a good one.
10:29Well, thanks. It's 97 one.