Lions’ Dan Campbell Gets Brutally Honest About Ben Johnson and Chicago Bears
The Detroit Lions won’t be returning to the playoffs for a third straight season, but head coach Dan Campbell made one thing clear ahead of Week 18: pride still matters.
Sitting at 8–8, the Lions are tied with the Minnesota Vikings for third place in the NFC North, though tiebreakers technically place Detroit last in the division. After winning the North in back-to-back seasons and earning the No. 1 seed in 2024, the Lions have taken a step back—but they’re not backing down.
That mindset is especially evident with a heated rematch against the Chicago Bears looming.
Ben Johnson’s Bears Take Over the NFC North
Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, has orchestrated a stunning turnaround in his first season. Chicago enters Week 18 with an 11–5 record, having already clinched the NFC North title.
The Bears’ rise is even more notable considering their 0–2 start, which included a lopsided Week 2 loss to Detroit. Since then, Johnson’s offense has found its identity, and Chicago is now battling for the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
Campbell acknowledged Johnson’s impact without hesitation.
“Ben’s done a good job. The system is in,” Campbell said. “They found a run game. Play-action pass, Caleb Williams is playing really well. The O-line is playing really well. They’re playing at a high level—much more polished.”
Dan Campbell: Lions Will Treat Week 18 Like a Must-Win
Despite Detroit being eliminated from playoff contention, Campbell insists the Lions will approach the Bears game with full intensity.
“If they can play, we’re playing,” Campbell said when asked about injured players.
For Detroit, spoiling Chicago’s postseason positioning is motivation enough.
Jared Goff, Turnovers Doom Lions’ Playoff Hopes
The Lions will enter the Week 18 matchup on 10 days of rest after a Christmas Day loss to the Vikings, but the defeat wasn’t about Minnesota’s offense or rookie quarterback Max Brosmer.
Instead, Campbell pointed to Detroit’s self-inflicted wounds—particularly from quarterback Jared Goff.
“The story of that game was six turnovers,” Campbell said. “You can’t turn the ball over six times and win in this league.”
Goff accounted for five of those turnovers—two interceptions and three lost fumbles—effectively sealing Detroit’s fate. The struggles continued from the prior week against Pittsburgh, when red-zone inefficiency proved costly.
Dan Campbell Signals Potential Major Changes This Offseason
Despite finishing at .500, the Lions still boast the best point differential (+65) in the NFC North. The division could also become the first in NFL history to send four teams into a season with winning records.
Injuries—especially in the secondary—once again plagued Detroit’s defense. Still, Campbell made it clear he’s not interested in excuses.
“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things,” Campbell said. “Because I do not like being home for the playoffs, and I know our guys don’t either.”
Those comments strongly suggest significant organizational changes could be coming in Detroit as the Lions look to rebound in 2026.
