Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell sparked some controversy after his team’s 24-6 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

During an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday, Campbell shared his relief when the Colts chose to receive the ball after winning the coin toss, which allowed the Lions’ defense to take the field first.

However, his comments unintentionally seemed to disrespect the Colts’ offense, led by quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Campbell explained, “Yeah, it was awesome because we wanted to play defense.

I wanted to play defense first, so it was perfect. It depends. What is the look of that week? The opponent?

The energy that we want to start with that week, where maybe you feel like you’ve got an advantage or you think you can gain some early momentum or set the tone.”

In his remarks, Campbell appeared to downplay the threat of the Colts’ offense, implying that he felt more comfortable with his defense setting the tone for the game.

His plan worked to perfection, as the Lions’ defense dominated the Colts early. They shut down Richardson and the offense, forcing a red-zone stop early in the game.

The Colts were unable to score a touchdown, and the Lions’ defense continued to stifle them throughout the contest, contributing to the dominant win.

While Campbell likely intended to praise his defense, his comments might have unintentionally diminished the Colts’ offensive strength.

Still, his confidence in his defense was validated as the Lions improved to 10-1 heading into their Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears.

Campbell’s emphasis on the defense highlights the Lions’ Super Bowl aspirations, though his remarks about the Colts’ offense could serve as bulletin board material for future opponents looking for motivation.