In the NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers, a pivotal moment occurred when Josh Reynolds failed to secure a catch. This play shifted the momentum, and Detroit found itself trailing 27-24 with just under ten minutes left. On the ensuing drive, the Lions faced a crucial fourth down—4th and 3 from the 49ers’ 30-yard line. Coach Dan Campbell decided to take a risk. However, Jared Goff underthrew Amon-Ra St. Brown on a deep route, missing a chance to potentially tie the game with a 47-yard field goal. Instead, the Lions turned the ball over to a hot 49ers offense.
The 49ers capitalized, marching down the field to score another touchdown. Detroit got the ball back, now down by 10 with just over three minutes remaining. The Lions drove to the 2-yard line in less than two minutes, still with all three timeouts available. However, instead of passing to stop the clock, Campbell chose to run the ball, and a stuffed rush by David Montgomery forced Detroit to use one of their timeouts. The Lions managed to convert a critical fourth down to make it a 34-31 game, but the use of the timeout left them with no time left for another possession after an onside kick, which the 49ers recovered to seal the game.
While the game wasn’t decided solely by Campbell’s choices—Jahmyr Gibbs’ fumble and Josh Reynolds’ key drops also played a role—Campbell’s aggressive decisions allowed the 49ers to get back into the game and ultimately seize the lead. His final choice, opting for a risky onside kick, meant Detroit’s Super Bowl hopes ended in heartbreak.
Despite that painful loss, Campbell’s aggressive mindset remained unchanged in 2024. The Lions, along with one other team, have gone for it on fourth down over 20 times this season, with Detroit attempting it 22 times. Their bold approach has paid off, as they boast the fifth-highest fourth-down conversion rate at 68.2%. The Lions’ willingness to take risks has been a defining factor in their rise, but with a roster now brimming with talent, they’re no longer an underdog team. In fact, many consider the Lions to be one of the best teams in the league.
