Lions Reflect on Disappointing Loss to Vikings
The Detroit Lions faced a tough defeat against the Minnesota Vikings, falling 27-21 at Ford Field in Week 9. Following the game, players and coaches shared their thoughts on what went wrong, particularly emphasizing the struggles against the Vikings’ defensive line.
Dan Campbell’s Frustration with the Team’s Performance
Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment regarding the team’s inability to manage the Vikings’ defensive pressure.
“Self-induced. Oh yeah. Very disappointing,” Campbell remarked. “We knew what we were going to get going into this. We knew there would be some wrinkles, but there was nothing that we hadn’t seen before. We did not handle it well. I know we got beat on a couple of them, just physically beat on a couple that we expect not to. We expect more out of our guys. But some of it, we act like it was something exotic — it wasn’t. We just didn’t handle it well. We weren’t on the same page.”
This candid assessment highlighted the lack of preparation and execution that Campbell felt contributed to the loss.
Jared Goff Reflects on Team Readiness
Quarterback Jared Goff echoed Campbell’s sentiments, taking responsibility for the overall performance.
“I know he takes a lot of ownership in that, but I felt like we were ready to go. I felt fresh, we all felt fresh,” Goff stated. “Sure, I’m sure he’d like to do things differently, but from my perspective, we did what we were supposed to do, and we didn’t play well as players. We didn’t in any phase, and they did. They played better than us today, and it’s been a long time since we had this feeling of playing kind of poorly in all three phases, and you do that, you probably lose.”
Goff’s acknowledgment of the team’s collective underperformance underscores the weight of expectations placed on the players.
Amon-Ra St. Brown on Offensive Challenges
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown provided insight into the struggles of the Lions’ offense, particularly the lack of explosive plays during the game.
“We’ve just got to — I wouldn’t say I’m concerned. I know the guys we have on offense, the capabilities we have. We just have to put it together and continue to get better,” St. Brown said.
When asked about the defensive strategies that have seemed to stifle their offensive efforts, he mentioned, “I’m not sure. I’ve got to watch the tape. Obviously, you can play safeties over the top, eliminate deep balls and whatnot. But we’ve just got to be better.”
St. Brown’s comments reflect a sense of resilience, emphasizing that the team believes in their potential to improve.
Looking Ahead
As the Lions sift through the aftermath of this loss, the focus will undoubtedly shift toward addressing the weaknesses exposed by the Vikings. The players and coaching staff will need to regroup, analyze their performance, and find ways to harness their collective talent moving forward.
