The NFL Hall of Game was a one-sided affair, as the Los Angeles Chargers handily beat the Detroit Lions with a final score of 34-7. Granted, the game was preseason and featured backups and third and fourth stringers, but the score and events were enough to lead to a sizable threat.
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell is one of the most intense head coaches, but his leadership has completely turned the franchise around. Naturally, he expects the best out of his players, and the Hall of Fame game was simply not that.
The Lions turned the ball over five times, two of which came from costly interceptions thrown by Kyle Allen. The result of the turnovers was enough for Campbell to rip into his players, and offer a bit of a threat regarding their statuses on remaining on the roster.
“We turned it over five times and we didn’t get any takeaways,” Campbell said. “You’re wearing Lions gear, you’ve got to take care of the ball, or it’s going to be hard to keep you around.”
Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
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Campbell also stated that he expects the team to play better in the next game. Should the Lions perform the way they did in the Hall of Fame game, Campbell might make good on his promise.
The Lions came into the 2024 season blazing, putting together a 15-2 record and winning the NFC North for the second season in a row. Sadly, a wealth of injuries led to the team not being able to make it to the big show.
Still, the Lions remain one of the biggest contenders in the NFC, and they should go on another deep playoff run in 2025.
Losing preseason games doesn’t really mean much of anything, as it’s a time in which coaches can evaluate the depth of their rosters. Despite Campbell being upset, it’s good the team is making a ton of mistakes now.
It is better to make mistakes early on, so those mistakes can be corrected by the time Week 1 rolls around. Also, many of the players currently on the Lions roster might not even make the 53-man roster.
Either way, Campbell is showing the fire that he is known for, and why Detroit has completely bought into his leadership.
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