Criticizing Dan Campbell’s bold approach to going for it on fourth down is an easy task for some, but Tedy Bruschi’s critique has gone too far.

As Al Michaels put it on the Prime Video broadcast last Thursday night, there’s a fine line between genius and madness.

For many “football” people, Dan Campbell’s aggressive decision-making straddles that line.

As head coach of the Detroit Lions for over four seasons, Campbell has consistently chosen to go for it on fourth down more than any other NFL coach during his tenure.

If Campbell’s decision to go for it on 4th-and-short late in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers had failed, and the Packers had managed to rally to tie or win the game, the discussion today would be very different.

In the end, however, the decision had minimal impact on the final field goal attempt, which was just four yards, and it ultimately didn’t affect the outcome.

The drama escalated when Jared Goff stumbled and fell while attempting to hand the ball off to David Montgomery.

Much of the conversation focuses on the result rather than the process.

Campbell’s decision-making is rooted in instinct, gut feelings, and a belief in his players that goes beyond what analytics suggest.

When those gut calls don’t work out, it can seem like a poor decision. However, that’s a risk Campbell is willing to take.

The Lions converted four of five fourth-down attempts last Thursday night, highlighting the success of Campbell’s strategy.

Yet, opinions about his aggressive play-calling are mixed. Some are critical but provide well-reasoned arguments, while others, like Bruschi, take it too far.

On “Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi expressed his strong disapproval of Campbell’s constant aggression.

“Give me Dan Campbell on the field with me, I’ll take it. Don’t put Dan Campbell on my sideline,” Bruschi said. “I just don’t know, I don’t know the emotional control of this coach.

I mean, every single time? Does it have to be every single time?” Bruschi was particularly critical of Campbell’s decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 at the 30-yard line, arguing it was an obvious mistake.

Bruschi continued, suggesting that if Campbell had punted instead of going for it, the defense could’ve faced a Packers offense that was prone to turnovers, possibly avoiding the risky fourth-down situation altogether.

“Every single time? Why does it have to be every single time?” Bruschi asked, questioning Campbell’s strategy.

Bruschi also referenced Campbell’s famous introductory press conference, offering a critique with a light-hearted jab: “There’s no more ankles and knee caps to bite. You’re on top. Start playing like it and start coaching like it.”

Bruschi’s comments are particularly notable given his background as a former New England Patriot, where Bill Belichick, the team’s head coach, was not known for aggressive fourth-down decisions.

Bruschi, shaped by the “Patriot Way,” seems to view any deviation from Belichick’s more conservative approach as flawed.

Yes, Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down calls could potentially backfire in high-stakes situations, as they did in last year’s NFC Championship Game.

However, Campbell has shown improvement in balancing his risk-taking with strategic judgment.

Bruschi’s insistence on curbing Campbell’s aggression is based on the notion that the Lions, now “on top,” should play more conservatively.

But if Bruschi paid closer attention, he would see that Campbell’s bold coaching style is one of the key reasons the Lions are thriving.