By Blessing 
The NFL Hall of Fame Game wasn’t exactly the preseason warm-up the Detroit Lions were hoping for. In a one-sided affair, the Los Angeles Chargers handed them a harsh 34-7 loss. Sure, it’s preseason—mostly backups and guys fighting for a roster spot—but the way things went down? It raised some eyebrows, especially from head coach Dan Campbell.
If there’s one thing Lions fans know, it’s that Campbell doesn’t mess around. He’s helped turn the culture in Detroit completely around, building a contender through grit, accountability, and fire. So when the Lions coughed up the ball five times—including two brutal interceptions by quarterback Kyle Allen—you better believe Campbell wasn’t letting that slide.
“We turned it over five times and we didn’t get any takeaways,” Campbell said after the game. “You’re wearing Lions gear, you’ve got to take care of the ball, or it’s going to be hard to keep you around.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a warning. And with final roster cuts looming later this month, those turnovers might’ve cost a few players more than just playing time.
Campbell also made it clear: this kind of performance won’t fly in their next outing. If the Lions repeat the same mistakes, some of these guys might be packing their bags.
It’s worth remembering that Detroit is coming off a monster season in 2024—finishing 15-2 and locking up the NFC North for the second straight year. Injuries knocked them off course before they could reach the Super Bowl, but make no mistake: this is still one of the NFC’s top squads.
Preseason losses don’t count for much, especially when it’s mostly reserves and third-stringers taking the field. But for coaches like Campbell, these games are about setting a tone, evaluating depth, and seeing who’s really buying in. And when turnovers pile up like they did Thursday night, it says something about preparation—and focus.
Still, now is the time to make mistakes, not in Week 1. That’s the point of these games: expose the problems now, fix them fast. Many of the players on the field likely won’t make the final 53-man roster anyway.
But Campbell’s message is loud and clear. Mistakes have consequences. And that’s exactly the kind of fire that’s made Detroit believe again.