By Moses Joshua 
Discipline lapses and fading attention to detail are threatening Detroit’s once-steady rise — and Dan Campbell knows it.
A Sudden Shift: How the Lions Lost Their Identity
For two seasons, the Detroit Lions were celebrated for being one of the league’s most disciplined, detail-oriented teams — the type that refused to beat itself. But over the last several games, that identity has begun to erode, and the Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers made the problems unmistakable.
From personnel errors to avoidable penalties, the issues plaguing Detroit aren’t rooted in talent. They’re rooted in the two things the team once relied on most: discipline and attention to detail.
And head coach Dan Campbell isn’t hiding from it.
A Breakdown in Execution: “Detail and Discipline” Missing
The Lions opened their rivalry matchup with a glaring mistake: only 10 defenders on the field for Green Bay’s opening drive — a drive that ended in a touchdown. Later, they were flagged for having 12 men on the field, and once again, the Packers turned the error into points.
These weren’t isolated mishaps. They were symptoms.
Speaking with local reporters, Campbell acknowledged the foundational issues:
“I think ultimately, where we have to get better collectively as a team in all three phases, which I’m responsible for, is our detail and our discipline.”
He admitted the team has been digging early holes and struggling to climb out of them:
“We dig ourselves in a hole… all the little things we talk about, and it really is those two words, man, detail and discipline. We have to be so much better… We’re too inconsistent right now.”
This inconsistency has raised questions about whether Campbell’s decision to assume offensive play-calling duties from John Morton has stretched him too thin. With more responsibilities on his plate, fans and analysts alike are wondering whether in-game management and focus have taken a hit.
The Weight of Responsibility: Campbell Owns the Mistakes
Despite the mounting criticism, Campbell made one thing clear — he isn’t giving up the play sheet.
The former NFL tight end took full responsibility for the miscues, calling them unacceptable:
“It’s frustrating. Those are the things that get you beat… That’s on my watch, and that’s not okay.”
He emphasized that these breakdowns have nothing to do with ability or personnel:
“It’s not okay that we have 10, or we have 12, or we’re lined up wrong… We’ve not been detailed enough… the discipline, it’s something that I plan on hitting head on.”
Campbell’s message was unmistakable: The Lions’ issues are fixable — but only if the team recommits to the fundamentals that got them here.
Can Detroit Course-Correct in Time?
At 7–5 and jockeying for playoff position, Detroit cannot afford to let these cracks widen. The franchise has worked too hard to build itself into a contender to let preventable mistakes derail its momentum.
The Lions’ talent is not in question. Their resolve isn’t either. But their ability to sharpen up the details — and restore the discipline that once defined them — will determine how far they go.
If Campbell’s words are any indication, Detroit recognizes exactly what’s wrong. Now comes the part that counts: fixing it before it’s too late.