So far this season, the Detroit Lions haven’t suffered the sting of a blocked field goal or extra point. But head coach Dan Campbell has been paying close attention to what’s happening around the NFL — and he doesn’t like what he sees.
In Week 3 alone, the league witnessed a rare surge of blocked kicks. Four field goals were stopped in the fourth quarter of games on September 21, the most on a single day since 1991. Overseas, the Pittsburgh Steelers–Minnesota Vikings game in Ireland also saw a block. Later that weekend, the Dallas Cowboys swatted away an extra point under the primetime lights.
Even though his team wasn’t directly involved, Campbell admitted the trend makes him uneasy.
“I get why fans enjoy the block, but I hate watching it,” Campbell told reporters on Monday, grinning nervously. “Because I imagine myself as part of the protection unit. You admire the effort of the guys making the play, but nine times out of ten, it comes down to breakdowns in protection. And that’s brutal — losing because of something like that.”
The Los Angeles Rams can attest to that pain. Their chance to beat the Philadelphia Eagles vanished when a last-second kick was rejected. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers endured a double sting: a blocked extra point returned by the Cowboys for two points, helping Dallas secure a 40-40 tie.
Campbell’s message is clear — he doesn’t want his team to fall victim to the same fate.
Campbell Stresses Importance of Special Teams
For Campbell, the rash of blocks around the league serves as a teaching moment.
“It’s a reminder of how critical the little details are on special teams,” Campbell explained. “You fight for hours, but if just once you take the wrong step or lunge too high, someone slips through, and it costs you everything. That one lapse can undo all the work you’ve put in.”
Campbell urged his players to approach each snap with the mindset that the outcome of the game depends on their execution:
“If you lock in and treat every block like the whole stadium is watching, you won’t let it happen. We won’t let that happen here.”
The coach even recalled his own humbling moment. As a player, he once failed to stop Julius Peppers on a field goal attempt. The kick was missed, though a penalty gave his team a second chance. Still, Campbell said the memory left its mark.
Blocked Kicks on a Record Pace
Last season produced 18 blocked field goals across the NFL. This year, the pace is far more alarming. Through less than a month of play, there have already been 12 blocked kicks — including both field goals and extra points.
Even if the numbers cool down, Campbell knows these mistakes can sway playoff races and decide seasons. That’s why he refuses to let the Lions be caught off guard.
Detroit’s head coach sounds locked in on making sure blocked kicks never become a headline for his team.
