Although Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is aware that his club is no longer the underdog, he also wants it known that his players are already anticipating a few of the games that are on the schedule for the 2017 campaign.
“I think our guys know where we’re at,” Campbell said to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. “This is what motivates us, in my opinion: the things we still circle. Our own s— list exists. As the squad with the bullseye on our back, we’ve now surrounded a few other individuals as well. We also have goals.”
The Lions began the season in September of last year as the presumptive favorites to win the NFC North for the first time since the division’s founding in 2002. Following a 12-5 season, Detroit topped the division standings and completed its run to the NFC Championship Game.
The Lions led the San Francisco 49ers 24-7 at the half in their conference championship game, but ultimately fell short 34-31. Fans and commentators later criticized Campbell for a number of choices he made during that defeat.
“It’s not like we just ran through everybody last year and blew everybody out,” Campbell went on. “We played hard games and lost. We have adversaries in our division. The NFC Championship Game was a loss for us. We have our own goals, then, guy. That serves as the inspiration.”
The 49ers are the current favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX in February, with +250 odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook as of Tuesday morning. With +550 odds, the Lions were ranked second on the list.
Campbell admitted in his conversation with Jones that this past January the 49ers “did not crack,” whereas the Lions “cracked.” When Detroit visits San Francisco on December 30 for Week 17 action, the team will aim to exact revenge for that setback.
“We need to overcome that small next step,” Campbell continued. “We need to be capable of handling it at that level, especially when playing the elite opponent away from home.
The next level is that. In the past, Campbell expressed that he disagrees with the so-called “Super Bowl or bust” maxim. However, some would consider the 2024 Lions to be a “bust” if they don’t make it back to the conference championship game for a consecutive season.
