Dan Campbell says team finds fuel in talk of the ‘Same Old Lions’

It’s easy to lean into the “Same Old Lions” at every sign of adversity for the Detroit Lions, but head coach Dan Campbell says the phrase fuels the team’s fire.

When the Detroit Lions fall short or don’t make good decisions, at times in epic or inexplicable fashion, it’s the “Same Old Lions.” With one playoff win in the Super Bowl era, ineptitude, dysfunction etc. is the expected baseline for the franchise.

The Lions were the primary subject of Peter King’s “Football Morning In America” column as he starts a new season of the long-running weekly piece. King already expressed his optimism for the 2022 Lions, and he acknowledged it again by mentioning the betting angle and the team having no games scheduled in prime time or in national doubleheader windows.

"I’m more bullish on the Lions than the wiseguys are, more bullish than the NFL is."

Dan Campbell says Lions find fuel in “S-O-L” talk

After mentioning this year’s longshot Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (80-1 odds to win), as a template for his players, Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the “Same Old Lions” talk.

"We kind of feel like we may be Rich Strike here,”I just think I’ve got guys like Rich Strike. Every time we hear the S-O-L, same old Lions, and all the stuff, I think it fuels our fire. We love it. I think that’s how we all feel. That’s how we all talk. That’s how we all think. There’s nothing fake about it.”"

The Lions were competitive in a lot of games last year. They were a respectable 3-3 after Dec. 1, with two narrow losses and tie before that coming out of their Week 9 bye. The talent on the roster is better now, and the schedule is easier in all respects.

A push toward a .500 record is easy to see coming this year. That failure to do so will look like a disappointment suggests these really aren’t the “Same Old Lions” in 2022.