The Detroit Lions aren't going to the playoffs because of the problems with consistency they had in 2025, and all of that came to a head against the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit struggled on the road to an ugly 23-10 loss, which officially put the clamps on their playoff hopes this season. Offensively, the Lions turned the ball over six times, but defensively, they allowed a hapless Vikings team to move the ball and score twice while kicking three field goals.
Obviously, the defeat was a team effort, but linebacker Jack Campbell didn't hold back afterward when discussing his thoughts on the loss. As he explained, he was dejected by the defeat and wants all the heat for what went wrong on the defensive side.
"(I'm) just honestly super frustrated. I don't really have much to say. That was just a poor performance. And I'll take all the heat (for it). I feel like defensively we played alright, but we didn't make enough spark plays. We didn't get any turnovers. In those type of games, we got to do that. So that's on me. But (I) just (feel) frustration because I know how good this team can be and I know (how much) everyone puts into it, but you got to go do it."
Naturally, it's not Campbell's fault that the Lions fell apart on defense, and he has enjoyed a fantastic breakout season on the field cracking his first Pro Bowl while putting up 85 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles thus far. He has led with not only his play, but his actions.
Campbell's words are that of a leader primed to take the next step. Even amid his best season in the league, the struggles of the Lions are all the linebacker can think about.
Dan Campbell unsure of why 2025 Lions struggled to put it together
In terms of the reasons for Detroit's struggles, everyone has an opinion why the team didn't meet their lofty expectations. The head coach might have the best idea as to why things went wrong, but he isn't ready to explain why he thinks the team fell short this season until he gets a chance to assess the situation.
"Until I have time to really sit down and soak everything up, I don't know if I can quite answer (why). I know it doesn't take much for things to get off balance. Really not as much as you would think. Sometimes it can be one thing here. It could be one player, it could be one coach, you just never know."
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As the coach knows, there are always different issues every season no matter how good a team seems on paper, and they have to put everything together once they hit the field.
"Every team's different every year. And even if you have the core which you believe in -- we've got them -- it's always a new team. You got to find your own way. So it's disappointing, but it is what it is."
Fortunately for the Lions, a leader like Campbell on defense is part of the bright future. It sounds as if he is very motivated to make sure that the pain of 2025 never happens again. For now, the sting of defeat and unfulfilled expectations will linger well into the offseason.