Dan Campbell Is Off His Rocker. And I Love It.

There’s not a more fun team to watch in the NFL than the Lions. All year they’ve been must-see TV. The up and coming underdog. The QB who was shipped off and found a home in the dump of a city and franchise in Detroit. And a coach that you have no clue what he’s going to do next.

No part of me will speak a lick of ill will towards Dan Campbell. He’s ascended the habitually pathetic Lions into legitimate title contenders in just a few years’ time. He’s taken on the mindset of the people of the city and captivated the fan base. And he’s endlessly entertaining. Crazy to think last year sitting at 1-6 he was on the hot seat. 

He’s talked the talk since the day he got there with the infamous biting kneecaps intro press conference. But he’s walked the walk since that day too. It took a while for the Lions to start winning games in his regime, but from day one they competed. They struggled to get over the hump, as the aura of the cursed franchise seemed to play a role in every heartbreaking last second defeat. 

But the style and identity the team took on resonated with fans in Detroit and far beyond. And as they started to win games, the loveable Lions became the NFL’s sweetheart, a team nearly impossible not to root for.

With the most preseason hype Detroit has had since Charles Barkley had abs, the Lions lived up to it this year and clinched the division on Christmas weekend, and with two weeks left still had a chance for the one seed heading to Dallas. 

This blog isn’t about the hoax that took place in Dallas. We all know the Lions won that game. This blog is about Dan Campbell and his, albeit preposterously entertaining, excruciatingly ass-clenching decision making. 

This dude is off his rocker. Not that I think his rocker is calm and cool. But he’s off them.

Flash black to the Bears game in Chicago a few weeks ago. The Lions went for it on fourth down all over the field, no matter the distance. Fourth and 10 in field goal range? Go for it. Fourth and 1 on your own 35? Go for it. It was the first time it seemed like the aggressiveness of D Camp seemed erratic rather than tactical, where he was coaching with more emotion than sense.

Fast forward to Saturday night when the Lions score the what we thought game-tying TD. I say what we thought, but no one who’s followed this man and team this year had an ounce of doubt they were going for two. They were always going for two. They’re always aggressive. You don’t change the trajectory of a loser franchise by being a pussy.

Not only do they go for two, but call a trick play pass to an O Lineman. Ridiculous call on so many levels. An awesome call on even more. As Decker emphatically spiked the ball in the turf, I thought to myself with my mouth wide open and two hands on my cheeks, “This dude is insane”. In the best way possible.

The stones this guy has I’m not sure have ever been seen in the NFL. He’s singularly focused on being the aggressor at all times. To ensure his team is the bully, and never leave any game with anything emotionally or physically left in the tank. He’s a player acting as a head coach.

But Brad Allen took the game into his own hands and called the play back on an objectively incorrect call. A great finish was ruined, but at least we still have overtime.

This is where my concern (not criticism, remember I will speak no ill will on Dan Campbell) resurfaced.

For everything we love about Dan Campbell. For everything that his players love about him. For everything that makes him who is he and the great coach he his, his emotion, might have gotten the best of him Saturday night. In the heat of the frustration of an overturned play, I imagine him with puss spewing from his mouth saying, “fuck em’, we’re still gonna win this thing man”. And he trotted the offense back out from the seven yard line to go for two again. Unsurprisingly that didn’t work, and a bail out on a correct offside call gave the Lions a third chance, this time from the three and a half. And Psycho D went for it again. And failed. And lost.

I’m not sure a rational thought went through Dan’s brain from the second Brad Allen threw that flag to the second he hit REM sleep later that night. You could see it in his reaction on the field. You could hear it in his postgame presser. He wants it so bad, but in this case maybe too much.

This game wasn’t a make or break game for Detroit. It was more of a nice to have, potentially having a chance at the one-seed if the niners slipped up, but more likely securing the two-seed and two home playoff games. 

I’d like to think DC wouldn’t have acted like Old Yeller after the raccoon bite if this was a do or die situation. I 1000% believe he’d go for two to win the game the first time. You gotta stay true to who you are and how you got to where you are. But after the penalty could you maybe kick the extra point? Please? As someone rooting for this team? I love the aggressiveness, but there’s gotta be a line in the sand, right?

To be abundantly clear, I’m not asking Danny Boy to change his coaching style. I’m not asking him to be any different than the fireball of fury we all love. I’m just venting as someone rooting for the Lions, just thinking out loud.

For all the reasons the Lions are fun to watch, Dan Campbell and his schizophrenic play calling is towards the top of the list. Don’t change D. But don’t be surprised if it’s what kills you.