By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s head coach confronts hard truths after a crushing defeat that exposed familiar flaws
The Detroit Lions walked off the field Sunday knowing they had let another opportunity slip away. A 29–24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just sting because of the final score—it cut deeper because of how it happened. Afterward, head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hide from the disappointment, offering an unfiltered assessment of a team still searching for consistency at the most critical point of the season.
From struggles in the trenches to a controversial ending, Campbell’s postgame remarks painted a clear picture of where things went wrong—and where accountability ultimately lies.
A Familiar Problem in the Trenches
For Campbell, the game was decided long before the final play. Pittsburgh controlled the line of scrimmage, particularly on the ground, and Detroit never recovered.
“I can’t argue with that. Look, the ground game says it,” Campbell said. “I mean, they’re rushing. They rushed it, they had a lot more carries… they rushed for over 200 yards. And only 15 for us.”
That imbalance shaped everything. The Steelers sustained drives, dictated tempo, and kept Detroit’s defense on the field. Meanwhile, the Lions were forced into a one-dimensional approach, abandoning the run far earlier than planned.
Campbell didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Just couldn’t quite get it going, man,” he said. “Certainly, I wish we could have run it more… A lot more than that. It just wasn’t one of those days.”
Late Drama and a Frustrating Finish
Detroit nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback, but the game ended in chaos. A would-be game-winning moment was erased by an offensive pass interference call, leaving players and fans stunned.
“I don’t even want to get into it,” Campbell said when asked about the penalty. “Because it’s not going to change anything, we still lost.”
He emphasized that the Lions should never have been in a position where one call decided the outcome.
“That’s frustrating. But there again, it should never come to that. We had our opportunities.”
Campbell also addressed Amon-Ra St. Brown’s awareness on the final sequence, when the receiver pitched the ball to Jared Goff to keep the play alive.
“It was a headsy play, man,” Campbell said. “That’s what Saint is—he’s a freaking smart, instinctive player.”
Injuries, Execution, and No Excuses
With injuries forcing constant lineup changes, Campbell acknowledged the challenge—but refused to let it become an excuse.
“Man, we’ve lived this for three years,” he said. “We should be better than that… Every team’s got injuries in this league.”
Instead, Campbell pointed inward, placing responsibility squarely on his own shoulders.
“There’s a lot of errors, man… mental errors here or there, or a lack of self-discipline,” he admitted. “Ultimately, I put that stuff on me, man. That’s on me.”
What Comes Next: Identity Over Outcomes
With playoff hopes fading, Campbell made it clear his message to the team isn’t about standings or scenarios—it’s about finishing the season the right way.
“We’ve got two to go,” he said. “I just want to see us finish… our style of football.”
That message was even more blunt when asked how the losses affect the locker room.
“We’re big boys in this league, man. You pull your pants up and you go to work,” Campbell said. “We have nobody to blame but ourselves.”
The Lions may be running out of time, but Campbell’s focus remains unchanged: accountability, physical football, and closing the season with purpose—even if the stakes are no longer what they once were.