The Detroit Lions got back into the win column on Sunday, with the kind of a win a good team gets over a bad team like the Chicago Bears. The Bears were not able to overcome a 20-0 first half deficit, and the Lions were able to cruise late as the home team was often unable to get out of its own way.
Dan Campbell's postgame locker room speeches are usually full of energy, with rare exceptions.
After Sunday's win, Campbell told reporters what his two simple stipulations for the game were.
"The two most important things for me was, I wanted to see us play Detroit football and I wanted to win", Campbell said. "That was it. I gave no other stipulations.”
In the postgame locker room before he met with the media, Campbell had a similar, more subdued tone.
Dan Campbell keeps Lions focused on what's still to be done after win over the Bears
The Lions set a franchise record with their 13th win of the season on Sunday. But Campbell knows it's not time to reflect yet, with more to accomplish this season.
"Great job. Great job. Here’s what’s crazy — at some point, we’re going to look back and say, ‘Man, we just got 13 wins, franchise record. Detroit Lions never done this before in the history of this franchise.’ We’re going to be able to look back and say that, but not yet. Not yet,” Campbell said. “Because you know what we got to do next week? We got to win, man. We got to win. But we said play Detroit Lions football. We did that and got the W."
"You guys did that, and we may roll it all the way down the table just like this", Campbell said. "You find a way to win the game, and we found a way to win the game. We lean on each other and use all parts. Alright, that’s a good job, man.”
As Campbell hinted, the Lions need to win next Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. The division rival Minnesota Vikings, who are also 13-2, need to lose to the Green Bay Packers the day before to put that clinching scenario into play. Otherwise, the regular season finale against the Vikings at Ford Field is lined up to be for all the marbles-the NFC North title and home field advantage in the playoffs.
Campbell gave out just one game ball on Sunday, to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and wide receiver Jameson Williams broke down the locker room at the end of a celebration that was focused on what the Lions still have in front of them this season.