At 7–5 and sitting third in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions find themselves in a far different position than they envisioned entering Week 14.

They began the year as one of the NFL’s most talked-about contenders, with many analysts believing they had a clear path to the Super Bowl. Instead, the Lions are currently outside the NFC postseason field, occupying the No. 8 spot. The Dallas Cowboys, who visit Ford Field for a critical Thursday night showdown, trail right behind them at 6–5.

Even with the growing urgency and shrinking margin for mistakes, head coach Dan Campbell isn’t panicking.

“I don’t look at it in doom-and-gloom terms — it’s just not how I operate,” Campbell said Tuesday. “We’ve got the right people here. There’s plenty of talent, good character, and strong coaching. What we need is winning football, and that means all three phases doing their part. Every guy has a job, and the details matter.

“The margin is thin, but it’s still achievable. We can absolutely get it done. But before you beat the opponent, you’ve got to stop beating yourself.”

The challenge the Lions can’t avoid is the adversity they’re confronting right now as they gear up for Dallas.

Earlier this week, Aidan Hutchinson mentioned that staying tough is easy when victories pile up and everything feels positive. Campbell was asked Tuesday what the team — both staff and players — could learn from this tougher stretch, one they really haven’t encountered in two years.

“For some guys, this is a new spot,” Campbell said. “But others — Hutch, St. Brown, Sewell, Goff, Decker — they’ve been through rough stretches. They get it.

“You put your head down and go to work. Fix the small stuff, because that’s what wins in this league. Two years ago, everyone was celebrating progress. Now it feels heavier because of how well we’ve played recently.”

Campbell said that perspective is part of both the struggle and the solution as Detroit tries to realign its identity in the final weeks of the season.

“You can’t dwell on where you are. The only thing you can control is your own performance — your coaching, your assignments, your execution. Go out there and play the best football you can.”