Here’s Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell’s comments following his team’s 34-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 16:
Opening Statement:
“I’m really proud of the team for bouncing back today. I knew they would. They came in with the right mindset. It’s tough to recover emotionally, physically, and psychologically after a loss, especially after not having lost in a while, but they went out and won on the road again. I told them that 13 wins is a franchise record, something we’ve never done before, and one day we’ll reflect on that, but not yet. There’s still work to be done. Next week we face San Francisco on the road, a very good team, but for today, we did what we needed to do. We got two takeaways and turned them into 10 points, took an early lead, and controlled the game. We played it the right way, and I’m pleased with how we handled it.”
On the Commanders’ game against the Eagles:
“Oh, they did? How much time is left? Why don’t we just sit here and wait for this.” (Laughs.)
On the play to TE Sam LaPorta:
“That was one of Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson’s ideas. We started with the concept, then worked to refine it. We discussed how to make it better, and the execution from Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, LaPorta, and the offensive line was great. We worked on it all week, and they executed it really well.”
On the feeling when trick plays succeed:
“Plays like that are fun because everyone’s invested in it. They work because they’re sound and everybody’s accountable. It might sound a little crazy, but it’s solid. It’s like dribbling a basketball—it’s a full team effort. When everyone’s committed, it’s great to see it work. It’s even better than in practice. Like the throw to Jameson Williams—looked good in practice, but the real thing was even better. A perfect throw, great protection, and Jamo did an excellent job on his route, trusting the throw, and making a great catch. It was a big play.”
On refining passes to Williams:
“Yes, it’s become more refined. The more you practice something, the more confidence you gain. And when you translate that into games, you build even more confidence. Those deep throws are low-percentage, so you don’t always attempt them, but as you hit them more, you trust the process. I feel really good about where we are now. Williams has rare speed and ability, and he had a fantastic week of practice. Goff’s playing at a high level, too. It’s all coming together.”
On Williams’ reaction after the taunting penalty:
“He handled it great. He just knew he couldn’t give them a free ride. He shook it off, got back on the field, and kept playing. I love that about him—he doesn’t let it affect him. He’s a great competitor, and it doesn’t bother him for the rest of the game. I really like where he’s at.”
On feeling better this week compared to last week:
“A win always makes you feel better, but it’s a 24-hour thing. You get through that period, recover, and then focus on how to improve. By Tuesday, I’m ready to go again, and so are the players and coaches. We don’t stay down for long. We clean things up, look ahead to the next game, and get back on track. We don’t lack confidence, and our group is very resilient. We’re competitive, and we always want to improve after a loss.”
On the Lions’ ability to compete with the Vikings:
“You can learn a lot from games like this. There are definitely things we need to clean up. As I told the team, my two main priorities were to see us play ‘Detroit football’ and to win, and we accomplished both. Now we’re back on our feet, but there’s still work to be done. What worked today won’t be enough for Minnesota or some of the other tough teams ahead, like Philadelphia or Tampa. Every week we learn more and improve, and by the time the playoffs come, we’ll be playing our best football.”
On balancing fun with focus:
“You can do both. There’s fun in focus, especially when those trick plays work and you score. It’s important to create an environment where players are both challenged and held accountable while also enjoying themselves. We want them to have ownership, be invested, and feel like a part of something bigger. To have a healthy team, every emotion needs to be involved—accountability, focus, and fun. Our guys get that. We’ve still got things to clean up, but we’ve got a resilient group that’s always looking to improve.”
On what chasing the NFC top seed means for the team:
“I don’t know if I can tap into it like the players can right now because I’m still recovering from this game. But I do know it’s exciting to be where we are. This is what you coach and play for—the highest level of competition, with people breathing down your neck or chasing you. There’s nothing better than this. Yes, it can be frustrating and stressful, but it’s also the ‘drug’ that keeps you going. Not every team can handle this pressure, but ours can. This is the good stuff, and we’re right in the middle of it.”
On Gibbs’ performance:
“I thought he did a great job today. We didn’t miss a beat with him taking on more of the load. Jermar Jefferson and Craig Reynolds also stepped in and made key plays in their roles. This was Gibbs’ first real experience carrying more responsibility, and it was a good step. He got valuable exposure today, and it was a solid performance overall.”
