Ardent go for it on fourth down devotees, behold thy king, Dan Campbell.
The aggressive Detroit Lions coach took it to another level Thursday night in a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers, repeatedly going for it on fourth down in high-leverage situations. The most controversial decision came in a tie game with 43 seconds remaining and the Lions in field-goal range. Campbell eschewed a potential 38-yard field goal opportunity, going for it on fourth-and-1. With most of the onlookers stunned at the choice in a tie game, Detroit converted on a David Montgomery run, setting up an eventual Jake Bates winner to clinch a playoff berth.
"I just felt like we needed to end it on offense," Campbell said of his decision, via the team's official website. "I did not want to give that ball back and I believed we could get that. I believed we could convert, and I trust that O-line, I trust David, and they came through for us. It's a hell of a call by (offensive coordinator) Ben (Johnson). I knew how I wanted to play this game, the team knew it, and everything in me told me, 'Let's finish this,' and so we did."
They did with a decision so aggressive that even the analytics said to kick the field goal.
Analytics, however, don't take into account a decimated Detroit defense that has lost essentially its entire front seven. Detroit has 13 defenders on IR, and D.J. Reader, Joshua Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike were ruled out before the game. Then, star DT Alim McNeill (head) exited Thursday night and Brian Branch limped off on the previous defensive series.
The Lions defense forced just one punt in the second half, giving up three TDs and a FG.
It was a gutsy call by Campbell but on brand for the Lions coach.
Detroit converted four of five fourth downs in Week 14 – the third game with four-plus conversions with 77 total fourth-down conversions since 2021 (most in the NFL).
Twice on Thursday, the Lions scored red-zone TDs on those plays. The flip side of the coin was getting stuffed on their own 30-yard-line, which set up an easy Packers fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
"We came into this game knowing we were going to do it a little bit more than usual," Jared Goff said of going for it on fourth down. "Dan had mentioned that early in the week. He was really going to lean on our offense to make some things happen and be aggressive on fourth down if the opportunity presented itself."
Context is key when discussing fourth downs. Given where his defense is at, Campbell knew he needed touchdowns to win. While the failed fourth down at the 30 gave the Packers a short field, the calculus -- right or wrong -- was likely that the Packers might have driven for the score regardless of where they got the ball. This was a game Detroit needed the offense to win.
The offense did.
Even Matt LaFleur wasn't surprised by Detroit's aggressive approach on fourth downs.
"Maybe the one at the end of the game a little bit," LaFleur said. "But that's how Dan has done it throughout the course of his career. It doesn't necessarily surprise me but that gave us an opportunity there. Hats off to them. They executed and we didn't."
The Lions executed, leaving Jordan Love watching from the sideline to end the game. Had Detroit not executed, Campbell would have been lambasted Friday morning.