The NFL Hall of Fame Game was completely lopsided, as the Los Angeles Chargers dominated the Detroit Lions with a decisive 34-7 victory. Yes, it was just a preseason game full of backups and deep reserves, but the result and performance still triggered a strong warning.

Lions head coach Dan Campbells, known for his fiery demeanor, has completely reshaped the team’s identity. He demands excellence, and what he saw in the Hall of Fame Game was far from that. Detroit coughed up the ball five times, including two damaging interceptions by Kyle Allen.

Those turnovers pushed Campbell to call out his players and deliver a serious warning about their future on the team. “We turned it over five times and we didn’t get any takeaways,” said Campbell. “If you’re going to wear this uniform, protect the football — or you may not be here long.”

Campbell added that the Lions must show improvement in the next outing. If the team repeats its performance from the Hall of Fame Game, he may follow through on his warning.

That said, Detroit is still viewed as a top NFC contender, and expectations remain high for another strong playoff push in 2025. Preseason losses are not especially important, as they mostly help coaches evaluate roster depth. Although Campbell was clearly frustrated, it’s actually positive the team is working through these mistakes now.

Getting errors out of the way early allows for corrections before the regular season begins. Also, several current players likely won’t make the final 53-man roster. Regardless, Campbell continues to bring the intensity he’s known for — one reason Detroit has embraced his leadership so strongly.

The Lions stormed into the 2024 campaign, finishing 15-2 and securing back-to-back NFC North titles. Unfortunately, a string of injuries derailed their shot at reaching the Super Bowl.