One thing fans have learned about Dan Campbell over the years is that he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Following a frustrating home defeat to the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions’ head coach made it clear that he isn’t losing sleep over critics questioning whether his team can meet its Super Bowl expectations this season.

Campbell Confronts the Pressure Head-On

Before Friday’s practice, Campbell addressed the reality of this season. Unlike previous years, Detroit is no longer the underdog flying under the radar. After an impressive 15-2 season in 2024, the Lions entered 2025 with high expectations, and Campbell was fully aware of the scrutiny that comes with it.

“I told our guys at the start, if you win 15 games and only lose two, a loss hits differently,” Campbell explained. “If we lose more than two, people are going to start asking questions. I told the team to be ready for that.”

True to form, Campbell didn’t shy away from admitting that Detroit could drop more games this year, but that doesn’t necessarily define them.

“There’s a chance we may lose more than two games, and that doesn’t mean we aren’t improving,” he said. “By the end of the season, this team could be stronger than it was after going 15-2. I don’t know exactly what the record will be, but that’s a real possibility.”

From Underdog to Benchmark

After earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC last season, the Lions became the team everyone measured themselves against. Now, despite injuries and some tough breaks, Campbell seems almost pleased that doubt is creeping in again.

“I kind of like it,” he admitted with a grin. “It’s nice to be a little afterthought again. Some teams are playing well, and we’re whatever—and that’s fine. We’ll focus on ourselves, fix what we need to, and get our rhythm back.”

Campbell’s message is clear: outside validation isn’t necessary. While Detroit’s 2025 campaign has had its ups and downs, he trusts the process and believes in the players who got them to this point.

Regardless of whether the Lions finish 13-4, 11-6, or worse, Campbell isn’t fixated on the loss column. He’s focused on how his team will perform in January, and if history is any guide, that “humming” he mentions could signal a team peaking right when it matters most.