Anyone expecting excuses after the Detroit Lions fell to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving got the opposite. Dan Campbell’s postgame remarks weren’t about deflecting blame — they were a blunt assessment of where his team stands and how they got here.

Campbell Confronts the Truth Head-On

From the first moment he spoke, Campbell refused to hide behind officiating, injuries, or momentum swings. His message was simple: Detroit created its own problems.

“We put ourselves in a hole,” he said. “That’s the truth of it.”

And that hole is getting deeper. The Lions have now dropped three of their last five, and the miscues are snowballing.

But Campbell made it equally clear that if the Lions are going to rebound, it will come from within.

“We created this situation… and we’re the ones who have to climb out of it.”

It’s the essence of the culture he’s tried to establish — responsibility over blame, ownership over excuses.

Fourth Down Failures: The Turning Point

If there was a defining difference between the two teams Thursday, it was execution in critical moments.

The Packers rose to the occasion. The Lions didn’t.

Detroit went 0-for-2 on fourth-down tries. Green Bay went 3-for-3 — and two of those conversions became touchdowns.

Campbell acknowledged that at least one of his own calls wasn’t ideal.

“There’s one I’d like back… I’m not sure we put our guys in the best spot on that first one.”

Still, he wouldn’t back away from Detroit’s trademark aggression. That’s who they are, and one rough outing won’t change it.

“You want to convert them — we usually do. Today it just didn’t happen.”

Fans will argue about the decisions for days. Campbell is more concerned with the execution than the philosophy behind it.

Calm, Direct, and Already Moving Forward

Despite the tough loss and the tightening NFC North race, Campbell’s tone remained consistent: correct what’s going wrong and focus on the next game.

“All we can do is clean up our mistakes, look ahead, and find a way to win the next one.”

He also acknowledged the standings have shifted — and not in Detroit’s favor.

“You’ve got to handle your business. You’ve got to win. And yeah, now you also need a little help.”

Not the position Detroit expected to be in heading toward December, but Campbell isn’t letting it shake the team’s identity or confidence.

What Comes Next for Detroit?

With Amon-Ra St. Brown battling an ankle issue and the offense searching for rhythm, Campbell admitted the challenges are real. But he made it just as clear that injuries won’t be the story they lean on.

“It’s simple. Don’t overthink it. It’s frustrating and it’s hard, but we’ve dealt with adversity before… and we’re the only ones who are going to get out of this.”

It’s exactly the tone a team in Detroit’s situation needs — direct, honest, and forward-looking.
Now the Lions have to respond with the same level of urgency and accountability their head coach is demanding.