Dan Campbell and his aggressiveness is under fire once again.
Another round of NFL action is in the books, family and friends. This past week was awesome in that it gave us big-time clashes and fights between some of the best teams in the league at the moment. There were controversial moments, distances put between some and others plus plenty of other things that you need to know about.
This is where we, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, come in. It is our job to make sure you understand what you need to so that when you see your family soon enough for Christmas you are properly prepared and fitted.
This is The Skinny Post and we are about to fly through the most important things that happened on Sunday of Week 15.
True or False: Dan Campbell will be the doom of the Detroit Lions
RJ:
Allow our friends at Pride of Detroit to set the stage and/or remind you of how Dan Campbell sort of threw away Sunday’s game for the Lions against the Buffalo Bills:
Early in the fourth quarter, the Lions scored to make it 38-28 with 12 minutes remaining. At that point, Campbell opted for an onside kick. The kick was recovered by the Bills and returned all the way to the Lions’ 5-yard line. One play later, the Bills were up by 17 points again.
It is not a secret that I am a bit annoyed by all of the Lions love that we have seen over the last few years. More than anything what annoys me is how people present the idea that they believe Detroit is very good as something unique to them when everyone agrees on it. Now I just digress.
All of that said… I think people are way too quick to overreact on Dan Campbell aggression in several instances. This is who he is. I don’t say that in a simplistic or give-up way. I say this in a very positive way. I disagree with this specific decision, but I would be more than comfortable living and dying on this particular sword’s edge than being afraid and tentative all of the time.
Michael:
I do believe that no matter how successful a coach is for a franchise, they’re still not above criticism when it’s warranted. However, what Campbell has done for the Lions is so beyond insane in terms of how fast the turnaround was to becoming one of the best three teams in the NFL that I believe he deserves the largest amount of grace outside of someone like Andy Reid.
At the same time, the decision to go for an onside kick at that point in the game is something I would have expected Brandon Staley to do when he was at the helm of the Chargers. Staley was so efficient on his fourth down decisions in his first year and when they started biting the team in the rear too often, he began to roll the dice less and then even when he did, it was usually a very poor play call or execution.
This is what this moment felt like to me. But come on Lions fans, this guy is the reason you all finally shook off the residual depression from the 0-16 season. He’s probably the reason you all enjoy football season again. You got to this point with Dan Campbell. I think an occasional blunder is part of football and it’s definitely not unique to your head coach.
Who is teaching these young football players to drop the ball before crossing the goal line? Why does this keep happening?
Michael:
The Colts were leading the Broncos early in their game on Sunday 13-7 after Bo Nix was intercepted for the second time in the first half. On the ensuing Indy drive, running back Jonathan Taylor took a carry 41 yards to the house to go up 20-7…
…or so they thought.
Just before Taylor crossed the goal line, he did the unthinkable. Like a rookie who just couldn’t wait to celebrate their first professional touchdown, Taylor let go of the football a step before crossing the plane in order to…I don’t know…look cool? I truly don’t understand what the thought process is behind doing this aside from some kind of aesthetics that truly no one cares about.
It’s not setting a good example for the younger generation and it’s certainly not doing your own team any favors.
Oh yeah, and the Broncos went on to win 31-13 because the Colts couldn’t find any points after the mishap. That’s a bad beat if I have ever seen one.
RJ:
There are some things in football, the NFL or life at large that are completely out of our control. We can all reckon with that.
This is one of those things that is completely and totally within someone’s control.
Following the game and blunder Taylor mentioned how this will never happen again. Yea. I believe that. You know why? BECAUSE IT IS A CONTROLLABLE THING.
It is insane how this continues to be a thing. You would think that when someone did it 30 years ago or something that it would be drilled into people from their first experience of playing football.
I have nothing but second-hand embarrassment for anyone involved.
Who will be the third Wild Card team in the NFC?
RJ:
I’d say that we all feel pretty confident that the NFC North is going to send every team save the Chicago Bears to the playoffs. Agreed? Agreed.
The two teams who do not wind up winning the division will in all likelihood take the top two Wild Card spots in the NFC which opens up the third spot to some debate. Currently the Washington Commanders have it with a 9-5 record and the Seattle Seahawks gave them a bit more breathing room with their loss on Sunday night.
Seattle is 8-6. The Arizona Cardinals are 7-7. Atlanta enters Monday night at 6-7. Both San Francisco and Dallas are 6-8. It feels difficult to see a world where this isn’t Washington’s.
I suppose if I have to pick a different team that I would think it’s the team who plays in Washington in the Seahawks, but Geno Smith’s status certainly casts a shadow over that potential.
Michael:
With two easy games remaining and their date with the Eagles, I don’t see how the Commanders aren’t the seventh and final NFC playoff team. They’ll beat up on Kirk Cousins and the Falcons (because Cousins will throw eight picks) and then they’ll likely win a close and competitive game against a Cowboys team that wants nothing else but to spoil everyone else’s season.
I believe an 11-6 record — wow, that’s crazy for Washington and their rookie quarterback — is more than enough to secure the spot over both Seattle and Arizona, no matter how well they finish.
With Christmas right around the corner, how do you feel about the NFL now having teams play on the holiday?
Michael:
I’m a really big fan of the holidays. I think they’re sacred and one of the things that helps break up the calendar so time doesn’t fly by so fast. They’re not for everyone, but I’m the type of person who could care less how early any store puts up their Christmas decorations. Bring it on.
As for the games, I think the NFL did a great job of scheduling two great matchups, but I’m just not a fan of the concept. Let these people enjoy the holidays the same as everyone else. The business side of the sport has gone too far if they’re trying to milk viewership at the expense of their players and actually making memories like the rest of the country.
RJ:
This is a subject that comes up for me, our resident Dallas Cowboys person, every year around Thanksgiving. My annual answer is that it is something that I have just gotten used to over time.
Do I wish that it were different? And that the holidays could be days for non-football things? Absolutely.
I love the idea of having general football on for the background while sitting on our televisions, but I will say that I am sort of bummed at how the NFL is stomping on other sports. Christmas used to belong to the NBA which feels like forever ago. Did you even know that the Saturday games this week coincide with College Football Playoff games?! What are we doing?!
