Dan Campbell Stands by Decision to Play Starters in Lions' Victory Over 49ers
Following a thrilling 40-34 road win against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell defended his decision to field all starters despite the game having minimal impact on the standings.
Speaking to reporters postgame, Campbell emphasized the importance of consistency and preparation:
"Yeah, it was on my mind, and I thought a lot about it. I thought about it leading up to the game, I thought about it last night. I told the staff, but I ended up settling on the right thing to do was to play these guys because we owed it to the team. It’s hard to say who you're going to sit, and it's not fair to ask guys to play that hadn't been prepared to play. The biggest thing is there were things we wanted to do better than last week, and we did. We cleaned a lot of things up offensively."
The victory moved Detroit to an impressive 14-2 record, though they still haven't clinched the NFC North title or the No. 1 seed due to the Minnesota Vikings matching their record.
Next Sunday night, the Lions will host the Vikings in a high-stakes showdown to decide the division title and top playoff seed.
By playing his starters, Campbell ensured momentum carried forward into Week 18, particularly on offense. Quarterback Jared Goff was stellar, completing 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs shone with 117 rushing yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, wideout Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta each caught a touchdown pass.
Despite offensive strides, the Lions' defense remains a concern, allowing 30 or more points in three of the past four games. However, Campbell confirmed there were no significant injuries, minimizing the primary risk of playing starters in a relatively low-stakes matchup.
The win also carried emotional weight, as it marked redemption for Detroit following last season's NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers in San Francisco. Lions safety Kerby Joseph acknowledged the team’s desire for revenge, saying they “wanted that get-back.”
Strategically, the victory eliminated a potential nightmare scenario. A loss would have left Detroit vulnerable to losing the NFC North title and a first-round bye if they tied with Minnesota in Week 18. Now, a tie favors Detroit, as they hold the tiebreaker over the Vikings after a narrow 31-29 win earlier this season.
Looking ahead, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner of next week's clash secures home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, while the loser faces a tougher road in the postseason.
A first-round bye would be particularly beneficial for the injury-hit Lions, offering extra recovery time for key players like linebacker Alex Anzalone and potentially even star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
While both teams remain strong contenders, the psychological impact of next week's outcome could shape the trajectory of their postseason runs.