Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell took full responsibility for a costly mistake during his team’s 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, admitting it directly impacted the game. Campbell praised his team for improving from the previous week but highlighted his error in the second quarter as a turning point.

With 18 seconds left in the first half, quarterback Jared Goff completed a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was tackled at the Buccaneers’ 9-yard line. The Lions had no timeouts, and as Goff hurried to spike the ball, the field-goal unit mistakenly ran onto the field, causing confusion.

By the time Goff spiked the ball, only four seconds remained. The referees penalized the Lions for having too many players on the field—there were over 20—and a 10-second runoff ended the half.

Had the Lions been able to kick a field goal, they would have gone into halftime down by four points instead of seven, potentially changing the game’s dynamics. This error meant Detroit needed a touchdown in the final minute of the game instead of just a field goal.

The Lions failed to convert on fourth down, and despite a defensive stand, Goff’s next drive ended with three straight incomplete passes from the Buccaneers’ 26-yard line. His final throw, a short pass to Tom Kennedy, was incomplete, sealing Detroit’s loss.

Goff appreciated Campbell taking responsibility but didn’t believe the first-half mistake was the sole reason for the loss.

“He’s the head coach, and when he takes responsibility—like he always does—it makes it easier for everyone else to do the same,” Goff said. However, he acknowledged that they had several chances to win despite the blunder.

Campbell’s accountability reflected his leadership style, emphasizing team improvement while acknowledging his role in the outcome.