Detroit Lions coach Campbell talks Kevin Zeitler status, NFC Divisional game preparation
The head coach of the Lions discussed Christian Mahogany and Kevin Zeitler’s health as well as the team’s learning from last year’s NFC Championship loss and how it will help them this playoff run.
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Coach Dan Campbell said Kevin Zeitler was out for practice on Thursday and Christian Mahogany could take his place on Saturday
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He called the Detroit Lions a “sleeping giant” that will follow in the footsteps of success that the Red Wings and Pistons have enjoyed
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Campbell also praised the advantage that Ford Field brings to the Lions, adding this will be the loudest game the Washington Commanders have played in this season
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Coach Dan Campbell said Kevin Zeitler was out for practice on Thursday and Christian Mahogany could take his place on Saturday
-
He called the Detroit Lions a “sleeping giant” that will follow in the footsteps of success that the Red Wings and Pistons have enjoyed
-
Campbell also praised the advantage that Ford Field brings to the Lions, adding this will be the loudest game the Washington Commanders have played in this season
(FOX 2):The Detroit Lions meet the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional round two days before their season-opening playoff game.
The Lions are fortunate to play at Ford Field, which coach Dan Campbell described as “the loudest they’ve (Washington) been in all year.”
Campbell also discussed the team’s mindset heading into their next game, the team’s support base that extends beyond Detroit and around the nation, and an injury update on left guard Kevin Zeitler.
Kevin Zeitler’s injuries:
Kevin Zeitler, the starting left guard, missed Thursday’s practice.
Despite being the lone starter to sit out, Dan Campbell claimed he had made progress every day. Christian Mahogany, a rookie, would start in his place if he is unable to.
“We feel like we’re in good hands,” he stated at the press conference on Thursday.
Due to a hamstring injury he sustained early in the season, Zeitler was also unable to participate in practice earlier this week.
In the NFL’s Divisional Round of the postseason, the Lions begin their playoff journey on Saturday night at Ford Field against the Washington Commanders.
No longer the underdog:
One difficulty for the squad, according to Dan Campbell, following last year’s playoff run, was how it would react now that it was no longer the underdog heading into the following season.
According to the coach, that shift in perspective occurred far earlier in the season rather than during crucial games or right before the playoffs.
“Training camp in New York was the most adjustment for us. “I thought the Giants practiced hard, they brought it, it was a lot of energy, a lot of juice,” he remarked, describing the first genuine taste of the perception. “That was good for us.”
The Lions will “get everybody’s best shot” because they are 15-2, and “staying hungry” is the best strategy to win games and remain competitive.
The 2024 conference championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers aided in that endeavor. Campbell vividly recalls how the Lions wasted a significant lead they had been establishing during the first half of that game.
“I just think there’s something about being in that moment, in that space, going through it with the core group of guys you have,” he stated. “More than anything, it’s the experience of it.”
This weekend, the Detroit Lions will be broadcast live on FOX 2. Here’s how to watch the game on Saturday.
A “Sleeping Giant”
Although they don’t make the headlines in Detroit, the team’s basketball and hockey teams are starting to have success.
The Red Wings are on the verge of returning to the NHL playoff picture after going on a seven-game winning streak following the dismissal of their head coach. The Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham, are winning streaks of their own after overcoming a sluggish start.
However, the last game of the season was won by both teams. The Lions haven’t.
“One of the things that was appealing about playing here, wanting to play here and coach here is this is a sleeping giant for football,” he stated. It’s been successful for the Pistons. There has been success for Red Wings. The Lions, however, have never been successful.
Additionally, you should be aware that this is a sports town in order to be able to unlock anything. And for everyone to have a sense of belonging, such as “Dude, this is our team.”
Ford Field, which has become as one of the league’s most difficult venues for victories, is where some of that bottled up energy can be felt.
Campbell said the new Commanders will have a difficult time. Although they have employed strategies to avoid the cacophony of rival supporters, this will be their first visit to Detroit.
It has become clear that three things are certain in life: taxes, death, and exorbitant Detroit Lions tickets.