In Week 14 of the NFL season, the Detroit Lions found themselves on the losing end of a thrilling 48-42 game against the Buffalo Bills. One moment from the game, in particular, raised eyebrows and left many questioning the decision of Lions head coach Dan Campbell. With 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Lions trailing 38-28, Campbell made the bold call to attempt an onside kick after his team had just scored a quick touchdown to pull within 10 points.
This decision seemed especially perplexing given the situation. The Lions had just demonstrated offensive success, driving 70 yards in a little over two minutes. It was a crucial moment in the game, and Campbell knew that Buffalo’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen, could easily extend the lead if given the ball back. The onside kick was clearly an attempt to keep the ball away from Allen, a move that came from a place of fear of the Bills’ offense rather than confidence in his own defense.
In a way, Campbell’s decision can be likened to a horror movie scenario, where the protagonist, in this case, Campbell, is desperate to avoid the inevitable doom brought by their greatest fear. For Campbell, that fear is undoubtedly Josh Allen, who has been playing at an extraordinary level this season. The onside kick, however, was a gamble that backfired.
Mack Hollins of the Bills recovered the onside kick and returned it to the Lions’ five-yard line. From there, Allen promptly scored his fourth touchdown of the game, effectively sealing the win for Buffalo. It was a devastating outcome for the Lions, as the onside kick attempt had not only failed but handed the Bills excellent field position.
Campbell’s decision was not the only example of a coach trying to make drastic moves in order to limit Allen’s impact. In recent weeks, other teams facing the Bills have made similarly aggressive calls to keep the ball away from Allen, fearing the damage he could do. For instance, last week, the Los Angeles Rams chose to go for a fourth-and-five conversion rather than attempt a field goal, desperate to maintain possession of the ball and avoid giving Allen another chance.
The pressure of facing a quarterback of Allen’s caliber is something that many coaches are struggling with this season. Even Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid made a bold move in a recent game against the Bills, opting for a risky fourth-down play to prevent giving Patrick Mahomes’ counterpart, Allen, the ball. These decisions reflect the growing recognition that, in order to have a chance against a player like Allen, sometimes a coach has to take drastic measures.
Dan Campbell is not alone in his attempts to figure out how to stop Josh Allen. Across the league, there are 30 other coaches grappling with the same challenge. Allen is currently playing at a level that is almost unprecedented, and it’s clear that teams will continue searching for ways to slow him down as the season unfolds. The remainder of this season will surely provide more examples of how coaches are attempting to stop one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks.
