Neither quarterback Jared Goff nor head coach Dan Campbell shied away from taking the blame for the Lions’ loss. Goff acknowledged that he had a terrible showing at the wrong time, and Campbell credited the Commanders while also taking responsibility for the team’s mistakes.
The emotions were high after the shocking loss, with the Lions having overcome a laundry list of injuries this year. However, the injury-strapped defense was unable to overcome the obstacles, surrendering 481 yards and four offensive touchdowns.
Goff and Campbell both credited the Commanders, but the what-ifs were clearly prevailing thoughts. Goff said that if he had played better, the team may have won, and Campbell acknowledged that the team’s mistakes, including a flag for too many men on the field, were his fault.
Despite the disappointment, Campbell’s character and personality have galvanized the Lions’ ascension, and Goff feeds off his energy and emotion. Campbell knows that nothing is guaranteed, and that it will be twice as hard to get back to this point next year than it was this year.
The harsh reality is that the Lions were unable to replicate their success of a season prior, even with the status of the conference’s top seed. Campbell emphasized that it’s not the time to talk about what a great year, as the team fell short of their ultimate goal.