The Detroit Lions pulled off a thrilling 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, but much of the postgame discussion centered around one particularly aggressive moment and the strategy behind it.

On a recent episode of The St. Brown Podcast, hosted by Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous, Amon-Ra shared details of head coach Dan Campbell’s fiery instructions for dealing with Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Williams, known for his playmaking ability, often uses the sideline to his advantage, pretending to run out of bounds in an attempt to extend plays. According to St. Brown, Campbell gave his team a clear message about how to handle the elusive quarterback.

“He goes, ‘If he does this, we’re going to hit his (expletive),’” St. Brown recalled from a film study session. “I already warned the refs, the refs know.”

The game featured a pivotal moment when Lions linebacker Jack Campbell delivered a hard hit to Williams, who was attempting to evade pressure along the sideline. The hit caused Williams to bend awkwardly, briefly leaving him shaken but able to continue playing.

The play sparked a mix of reactions, with Bears players demanding a penalty, while Lions players defended the hit.

“Everyone on the Bears was like, ‘What the (expletive), where’s the flag?’” St. Brown explained, addressing the controversy. “We’re like, bro, he came out and then came back in.”

Though some labeled the hit as dirty, others argued that Williams invited the contact by faking an out-of-bounds run before cutting back into the field.

The incident highlighted the tough, physical brand of football that Dan Campbell’s Lions have adopted during their standout 11-1 season, which includes a 10-game win streak.

Meanwhile, the Bears, now sitting at 4-8, continue to struggle.

For Williams, the play underscored the risks associated with his high-risk, high-reward style of play, while the Lions continue to prove themselves as one of the NFC’s toughest teams under Campbell’s no-nonsense leadership.