Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has never been one to hide from criticism, and on Tuesday, he took full responsibility for one of his few puzzling moments during Monday night’s 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Play That Left Everyone Confused

In the second quarter, Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was strip-sacked, and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs clearly came up with the ball about five yards shy of the first down marker. Officials ruled it would be third-and-five for Tampa Bay — a simple, routine call.

Then came the confusion. The Lions challenged the ruling, with officials announcing Detroit was contesting that Wirfs was down by contact short of the line to gain. The explanation didn’t quite make sense, and Campbell made sure to clarify what actually happened the following day.

Dan Campbell: ‘That Was Me Reaching’

When asked about the challenge, Campbell didn’t deflect blame.

“Yeah, that was a bad challenge. That was a total screw-up on my end. I thought he was down where the fumble occurred, and that’s me just reaching for something that wasn’t there. Shouldn’t have done it,” Campbell admitted. “Yeah, if you were wondering, ‘What the hell is he doing?’ you were absolutely right.”

That kind of openness is vintage Campbell — no excuses, just pure accountability. It’s a rare misstep for a coach known for his sharp instincts and gutsy, aggressive play-calling.

The failed challenge ultimately didn’t change the game. Detroit’s defense stayed dominant, limiting Mayfield and the Buccaneers to only nine points while forcing several turnovers. Still, Campbell’s honesty once again showed why players and fans connect with him: he treats errors as lessons, not controversies.

Detroit enters the bye week at 5-2 — confident, resilient, and perfectly content to laugh at themselves when necessary.