Lions' Dan Campbell admits trying to confuse Cowboys defense before controversial penalty
Lions lost to Cowboys in a close contest
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell had a chance to simmer down on Monday following the team’s controversial Week 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Lions’ go-ahead 2-point conversion was negated by an ineligible receiver penalty. Taylor Decker was thought to have reported as eligible to an official, but Dan Skipper was deemed to have been the one to report in. Decker caught the pass that would have put the team up, but it was thwarted.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during warmups before the Dallas Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. (Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Campbell, along with the rest of the NFL world, was heated over the play. On Monday, he would explain what the Lions were trying to do when they had a few offensive lineman talking to an official before the play started. It was all about smoke and mirrors.
"It’s about eligibility. That’s what it’s about. And it has nothing to do with the ref. The ref knows. He knows. Because 68 reported," Campbell said, via Pro Football Talk. "It’s for the defense, so that they see three different people. And you’re just hoping they happen to not hear that it’s 70. That’s all."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Taylor Decker, #68 of the Detroit Lions, reacts prior to a game at Ford Field on Nov. 19, 2023 in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Campbell said in the postgame press conference and in his media availability he told the officials of the scenario. Head referee Brad Allen did not attend the meeting Campbell had, Pro Football Talk reported.
Campbell added that he had "controlled fury" and was going to use the loss as motivation.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I don't go the other way and the team won't either. We are on a mission and we're not going to feel sorry for ourselves and wallow in everything," he said, via NFL.com. "We had plays to make and we didn't make them. It's a tight game, a good opponent, playoff-type atmosphere and you have to make that one extra play, and we didn't.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell on the sidelines in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 30, 2023. (Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)
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"So, we will use this as fuel. I got pure octane right now. I woke up and I'm ready. So, we're moving forward."
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