By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s head coach embraces the underdog mindset as the Lions recalibrate midway through the season
Campbell Welcomes the Shift in Pressure
The Detroit Lions entered Week 10 holding the final NFC Wild Card spot at 5–3 — a respectable record, yet a step down from their dominant 2024 campaign that saw them finish 15–2. After their third loss of the season to the Minnesota Vikings, the tone around Detroit has noticeably shifted. But to head coach Dan Campbell, that’s not a bad thing.
“It’s good to be a little bit of an afterthought again,” Campbell said on Friday. “It’s nice. It’s like, ‘Hey man, all good.’ There’re some teams playing some good football, and we’re whatever, and that’s all good, man. This is good. We’ll go about our business over in the corner and get our stuff right and come out humming. So, it’s good.”
For Campbell, the drop in national spotlight isn’t discouraging — it’s liberating. It allows the Lions to operate quietly, rebuild momentum, and rediscover the edge that defined their rise in recent seasons.
The Weight of Expectations
Campbell had warned his players before the season began: success changes everything. Once a team becomes a contender, every misstep feels magnified. Three losses — the kind that would have been excused in the rebuilding years — now trigger doubt and debate across the league.
The scrutiny was expected. Detroit’s 2024 breakout put a target on their backs, and Campbell knew the follow-up act would test the team’s resolve. When the 2025 schedule was released, few analysts predicted the Lions would match last year’s win total, but optimism remained high for a deeper postseason push.
That belief, Campbell insists, still holds. The Lions’ defense has evolved, and despite offensive growing pains under new coordinator John Morton, the foundation of Detroit’s identity — toughness, resilience, and discipline — remains intact.
Finding Strength in Adversity
Rather than view the 5–3 record as regression, Campbell frames it as a sign of progress. The Lions, he says, are learning how to handle success while staying grounded. The adversity has become part of their growth curve.
“We’ll go about our business over in the corner and get our stuff right,” Campbell repeated, underscoring his belief that the team’s best football still lies ahead.
The Lions’ transition from hunters to hunted has come with challenges, but also perspective. As December approaches — the stretch that will define their season — Campbell’s focus is on rekindling the gritty, fearless mentality that transformed Detroit from a long-suffering franchise into a legitimate contender.
Back to Their Roots
The departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the subsequent adjustments have invited outside skepticism. Campbell, however, sees that as fuel. The doubt, he says, is an opportunity — a reminder of what originally drove the Lions’ rise.
“It’s good,” he said with a grin. “We’ll come out humming.”
In Campbell’s world, setbacks are simply setups for comebacks. The Lions may no longer be the NFL’s darlings, but that’s exactly where their coach wants them — underestimated, motivated, and ready to grind their way back into the spotlight.