Rusty-looking season opener won't change Dan Campbell's preseason plan

The Detroit Lions did what good teams do in Week 1: find a way to win when you aren't playing your best. Both sides of the ball had good moments, but there was some rustiness that is prevalent in September for every team since starters rarely play in the preseason.

A couple dropped interceptions happened on defense, and Brian Branch notably had a couple missed tackles early. Jared Goff took accountability for some operational issues on the offensive side, as that group simply looked like they hadn't played together in months.

The Lions have not played key starters in preseason games in each of the last two years, and this year some backups were held out as well. With the value head coach Dan Campbell places on joint practices over preseason games for key players, even with only one session of joint practices this preseason, it's not surprising starters haven't played. An added important layer is injury risk in meaningless games.

Dan Campbell will not alter preseason approach after Lions' rusty-looking Week 1

On Monday, Campbell was asked if the way the team looked in the season opener would consider changing his approach to playing starters in the preseason.

"No,” Campbell said. “I mean, listen, there’s always going to be an element of – because even then – what, you’re going to play them 20 plays? I would rather go against ourselves and run 60, which is what we did. Those last two weeks we scrimmaged each other going 60 plays. So no, I’m not, especially when you win the game."

The potential of being a little bit off in some aspects of the game during Week 1 is an issue all 32 NFL teams deal with, based on the decision to not play starters much or at all. One game is not going to (and it shouldn't) change Campbell's preseason plan to sit his starters. The reward is simply not worth the risk, no matter what happens in Week 1.

Other head coaches who sit starters in the preseason would say similar things to what Campbell did this week if asked.