The Detroit Lions trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-6 at halftime on Sunday, but they had a chance at points in the final seconds of the half. As the offense lined up to spike the ball on third down, with no timeouts, the field goal unit came on the field.
After a too-many men on the field penalty, and the mandatory 10-second run-off, the half was over in not so dramatic fashion. Campbell was shown on the tv broadcast taking his headset off in some level of frustration, understandably so.
Time will tell how important that botched opportunity for three points is, but it's looking like it'll be pretty important in a tight game that seems sure to be decided late by plays made and not made.
That kind of mistake is on the coaching staff more than the players. Getting players on and off the field in those situations is procedural, and has to be done urgently, but in orderly fashion too.
Dan Campbell has perfect response to Lions' gaffe at end of first half
FOX sideline reporter Laura Okmin caught up with Campbell coming back. The situation at the end of the first half was an easy question.
Dan Campbell completely owns a boneheaded mistake that cost Detroit points at the end of the half. It’s impossible to not love this guy. pic.twitter.com/cpzdfY9xNb
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) September 15, 2024
"Listen, 100 percent on the head coach,” Campbell said “Totally screwed my team. That is my — we’re going for the clock, clock it. It’s not a hurricane. I made a decision I shouldn’t have made and our team is going to have to overcome it.”
That right there is why players love playing for Campbell. He took full accountability for the mistake at the end of the half. The field goal unit was clearly told to be ready to take the field in a hurry, and it was just mis-timed as it appeared there was not full communication about the spike.
The Lions trail by four, 20-16, heading into the fourth quarter. Those missed three points loom large.