Campbell believes the team has yet to play a complete football game in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams.
He specifically pointed out that the offense has “a lot of little things” it can tighten up, saying:
> “I really believe we tighten a screw here and a belt and all the sudden, this thing is running like a well-oiled machine.”
The most glaring area: third-down offense. Detroit is converting at just ~37.6% on third downs (ranking 21st in the NFL) and ~39.1% on third-and-manageable (4-6 yards). Campbell made clear:
> “Third down is the most glaring thing right now. We have to be better.”
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🎯 Why it matters
While the Lions are efficient on first and second downs, the inability to convert third downs means fewer sustained drives, fewer scoring opportunities, and more pressure on the defense.
Completing all three phases is critical because even if one unit is sharp, inconsistency in another can cost games. Campbell stressed that it’s not just one side of the ball, but the collective unit that needs to step up.
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📝 What to watch
Whether the Lions improve their third-down conversion rate in upcoming games.
Whether the offense shows fewer “little things” (penalties, mis-alignments, missed assignments) that Campbell referenced.
Whether the defense and special teams also raise their level to support the offense — because “complete ball” means all phases.
How the coaching staff adjusts the game plan to address these issues now that the bye break allowed for extra evaluation.
Lions Look to Level Up: Campbell Wants Complete Football in Every Phase
