This was supposed to be the Detroit Lions’ year. The stage was set for the No. 1 team to finally overcome their past and reach the Super Bowl. Ford Field was electric, but then their dream quickly turned into a nightmare.
Following the unexpected 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round, head coach Dan Campbell and the team were left questioning where it all went wrong.
It wasn’t meant to unfold like this. Dan even wore custom Metallica playoff boots, and his wife Holly had dazzled in a Game of Thrones “Queen of the North” ensemble earlier in the week. The plan was for a victory to pave the way for the most significant game in Lions history, with a chance to make it to the Super Bowl.
Early on Sunday, Holly took to Instagram to express her heartbreak. She shared, “It hurts. This season was a dream and nobody wanted it to end. We all wanted more. Detroit deserved more. We’ll be back, better and stronger but today…it just hurts 💙 #.” She accompanied the post with a cold, broken heart graphic.
Given Dan’s relentless work ethic, fueled by little sleep and endless Starbucks orders, it’s clear he’ll be back at it, determined to help the Lions finally get over the hump. They were so close last year, falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, but bounced back with a strong season. For now, though, the pain of this big loss will linger for the Campbells, the team, and the fans.
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Dan Campbell moved to tears following Lions’ devastating playoff defeat to Commanders
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell became emotional after his team suffered an unexpected 45-31 defeat at home to the Washington Commanders.
Following the Lions’ upset loss in the divisional round of the playoffs, Campbell took responsibility for the result.
“We just didn’t get it done,” Campbell said after the game. “It’ll be something that I’m going to be, you know, I’m going to have a lot of time here to really look at it, think about it, and figure it out. How do we improve? What do we need to fix? The whats, the whys, the hows, all of it.”
Moments later, Campbell became emotional.
“It’s hard. You know, when you lose. When you lose these games, man. It’s like the players,” Campbell said, pausing to regain composure and fighting back tears. “What they put into it. A lot of people don’t know what they go through. You have to get up, bodies beat to [expletive]. You know, mentally stay locked in and do those things. Long season.”
Entering the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time in franchise history after setting a record with 15 wins, the Lions earned a first-round bye and were heavily favored against the Commanders.
However, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders dominated in the second quarter, outscoring Detroit 28-14 to lead 31-21 at halftime. Daniels and Washington maintained their momentum in the second half, shocking the top-seeded Lions in Detroit.
The Lions allowed 481 total yards to Washington and committed five turnovers, including four from quarterback Jared Goff (three interceptions and one lost fumble).
“Unfortunate, obviously. It sucks,” Goff said. “Worst part of this job. You hate it when you feel like you let guys down. You want to win these types of games at home.”
