Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was visibly distraught and crushed in his press conference following the team’s stunning 45-31 Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders on Saturday.
In one will go down as one of the biggest NFL playoff upsets of the decade, Jayden Daniels’ Commanders came into Motor City and dominated Dan Campbell’s Lions 45-31 in front of a stunned Ford Field crowd.
Saturday marks a brutal end to a Lions team that entered 2024 with serious Super Bowl aspirations after reaching the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Detroit posted a franchise-best 15-2 record and still went one-and-done.
The usually fired-up and humble Dan Campbell, however, wasn’t able to hide his heartbreak after the dream season ended in a thud.
“It just hurts to lose, man. I don’t care if you’re the 7 seed, 6 seed, 5 seed, 1 seed, cause I’ve lost all of them…and it stings,” Campbell said. “And it hurts.”
Here are the clips of an emotional Campbell in his post-game presser:
“It just hurts to lose, man. I don’t care if you’re the 7 seed, 6 seed, 5 seed, 1 seed, cause I’ve lost all of them, damn near.”
— Lions HC Dan Campbell on loss to Commanders pic.twitter.com/vm9XgSMC9j
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 19, 2025
#Lions HC Dan Campbell said it hurts to lose, regardless of being the No. 1 seed. “It hurts,” he said. Campbell described it as an “odd day” and things were just “a little bit off.” pic.twitter.com/pNKPW7e3mR
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 19, 2025
Dan Campbell falling on the sword pic.twitter.com/l1CwJUv4Tg
— Jerry Coleman (@sportswcoleman) January 19, 2025
Dan Campbell gets emotional while describing today’s loss. pic.twitter.com/Of8YpAL7Jv
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 19, 2025
While the Lions are left wondering what could have been, the Commanders will await the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles-Los Angeles Rams Divisional Round tilt on Sunday.
Dan Campbell’s Lions Committed Too Many Costly Mistakes
You can blame the banged-up Detroit defense for not making the necessary stops, but the real difference was turnovers. The Lions take great pride in ball control, but they lost the turnover battle 5-0 against the Commanders.
That included three interceptions from Jared Goff and another one by Jameson Williams on a failed trick play. At the end of the day, Detroit’s inability to protect the football cost them a trip to the Super Bowl.