Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat it. After the Lions stumbled their way through a messy Hall of Fame Game loss to the Chargers, Detroit’s head coach was not in a forgiving mood.
“We were sloppy. We were undisciplined. And that’s on us,” Campbell said after the 21–17 loss. And he meant every word.
Sure, it’s just preseason. The starters barely touched the field. But that doesn’t mean Campbell was okay with what he saw. The Lions were flagged ten times, coughed up the ball twice, and blew a fourth-quarter lead. That’s not exactly the tone you want to set for a team with serious playoff—and maybe even Super Bowl—aspirations.
Campbell’s frustration wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about effort. Execution. Discipline. All the gritty stuff he’s built this team’s identity on. And on Thursday night in Canton, those values were MIA.
He made it clear the tape won’t be kind when the team reviews it. “We’ve got work to do,” he said. “A lot of work.”
The good news? It’s August. This is the time to clean it up. And if there’s one thing we know about Dan Campbell’s Lions—they respond to adversity. You can bet this game will be fuel for the fire heading into the rest of preseason.
Campbell Not Impressed After Penalty-Filled Loss to Chargers
