Dan Campbell delivers impassioned speech about Detroit Lions overcoming injuries

The Detroit Lions (12-2) are dealing with an injury crisis at the most inopportune time with the playoffs rapidly approaching.

Detroit is beat up, yes, but head coach Dan Campbell is not concerned about the sky falling after its 11-game win streak came to an end this past Sunday with a 48-42 defeat to the Buffalo Bills (11-3). Campbell, speaking on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday morning, delivered an impassioned message about his team overcoming injuries. A fired-up Campbell dropped two F-bombs while explaining why his team can win in spite of the injuries.

Dan Campbell fired up on Detroit sports radio

.@lions head coach Dan Campbell gave a passionate speech to #lions fans this morning with @costaandjansen pic.twitter.com/c0uUWHPDwl

— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) December 17, 2024

“You know what happens is, you win 11 in a row, and you lose and then the sky falls,” Campbell said. “I hate to say it, but we’re not going to be able to win 11 in a row again for the rest of this season. What happens is, you get used to eating filet and I’m talking all of us, and everything’s good. Life’s good. But you forgot what it was like when you had nothing, and you ate your f****** molded bread. And it was just fine and gave you everything you needed. Sometimes, you gotta get punched in the mouth and remember what it used to be like to really appreciate where you are. We’ll do that, and so, we got a bad taste in our mouth.”

Campbell certainly knows how to get the very best out of his group, and that’s exactly what he’ll need to do down the stretch with the number of players unavailable for the rest of the season. Those include edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (tibia/fibula), running back David Montgomery (knee), cornerback Carlton Davis III (jaw), defensive tackle Alim McNeill (knee), linebacker Alex Anzalone (forearm) and a host of others on the defensive side of the ball.

Dan Campbell confident in Lions despite recent injuries

The Lions face a stiff challenge in the three remaining regular season games, as well as in the postseason, but Campbell is confident his group will respond.

“We got kicked around the other day, we lost a few guys and you know what? It was exactly what we needed,” Dan Campbell said. “We’re gonna bounce back, we’re gonna respond. We got guys that are about to have an unbelievable opportunity here. And we will play the game any way needed to win. We still got a good offense; We got plenty of good defensive players. I can go and rattle them off right now. We’re gonna put the best 11 on the field, we’re gonna cut it loose, we’re gonna play with our special teams. And I don’t give a crap if we gotta win by one point for the rest of the year.

“That’s what we’re gonna do and I’m gonna be happy about it. We come out of the game with 50 yards of total offense, and we win by one? You’re gonna see smiles on my face, I promise you. If it’s the other way defensively and we give up 700 yards and we win by one point? You’re gonna see a f****** smile from my ear to ear, I can promise you. We’re gonna find a way and we’re gonna get it done.”