Dan Campbell Has Mad Respect For Todd Bowles, Bucs
September 16th, 2024
Gives Bucs props for win.
So, Dan Campbell explained yesterday why he thought his Lions lost to the Bucs. He had two theories.
The first one, Todd Bowles had more answers than he had.
The Lions’ head coach’s second summation? He killed his team’s chances.
Campbell threw himself under the bus citing the botched final play with seconds left in the first half. That’s when Detroit was called for too many men on the field while attempting to set up for a field goal. It caused a referee-ordered clock run-off to end the half.
The Lions would have otherwise had a chip shot of a field goal attempt.
Late in the game, the Lions had the ball within field goal range twice. But the Lions needed a touchdown and the Bucs kept them out of the end zone. So yeah, Joe can see where Campbell believes he cost Detroit the game just before halftime.
But the main reason the Lions lost, Campbell said, was the Bucs came to play.
“Man, those guys, once again, it’s our third match with them and they go all out over there and once again just play, give you everything they’ve got. It’s unbelievable competition,” Campbell said.
Campbell, Bucs coach Todd Bowles’ old friend and former colleague (they both were assistants on the same staff in Miami some 13 years ago), wasn’t done there praising his buddy’s team.
Campbell was impressed by the Bucs playing great red zone defense.
“They do change up their coverage a little bit, which we knew they would,” Campbell explained. “They do a good job, there’s a few things they hang their hat on.
“They played one particular coverage and really pushed out to the flats on some things, and they buzz pretty hard under some routes. And so we just never felt real comfortable.”
As for not being able to take advantage of so many Bucs injuries, including the loss of Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey, Campbell said he wasn’t surprised Bucs backups on defense balled out.
“How many guys have we had out the last two years and the backups step in and just kick ass?” Campbell asked.
And that’s exactly what guys like Christian Izien, Will Gholston and Greg Gaines did yesterday. Kicked ass.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:09 am
What could’ve been huge was the catch and fumble by a Lions receiver early on that we would’ve had easily scooped and scored but was ruled an incompletion. That was a dreadful and blown call… it was clear six points for the Bucs. I’m surprised nobody has mentioned that.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:09 am
Campbell is a great coach….this is a huge win for Bowles & the Bucs
September 16th, 2024 at 9:15 am
Hope the Bowles haters can start on their crow entree followed by the defacation de crow dessert.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:15 am
1) Campbell is a class act and an amazing coach. 2) Lions are a great team. 3) We won with a lot of duct tape and a dash of luck (Campbell’s goof at end of 1st half) but then a lot of grit from offense and defense. 4) Imagine if we had our full team? Hope we have all our guys when we face eagles, falcons and saints.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Campbell is stone cold steve austin look-alike
September 16th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Huge win with so many of our players out. Everybody stepped up.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:28 am
Right before the first game of the season, I rewatched last year’s the Bucs-Lions playoff game; the most recent official game the Bucs had played.
The Bucs looked good and tough in that game, and they surely improved with the draft, free agency and another season of camp and physical training for a lot of young guys.
I could never understand why the power rankings had the Bucs in the basement. The injury bug is already biting, but I think that is the only thing that might keep this team out of the playoffs.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:32 am
“Give you everything they’ve got.”
There is no higher compliment you can give a football team.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:36 am
the NFL and officiating. what a crapshoot. a call here or there always seems to make the difference
September 16th, 2024 at 9:38 am
Awesome Win!
WAS 1-0. They won this week. Might be a better W than I thought.
DET 2-0. Crazy win with all the injuries.
DEN 3-0. Team is a mess. Total mismatch.
PHI ?.
This is a HUGE GAME. Philly is playing ATL, NO, TB over three weeks. Beating Philly could be essential in a tie break vs NO.
September 16th, 2024 at 9:53 am
^ we’re 0-0 right now…take that Denver game serious, its Payton
September 16th, 2024 at 10:04 am
Don’t overlook Denver. The teams you know you will beat are usually the hardest. They give their best effort against you. Don’t let up in the least Bucs. Bring it.
September 16th, 2024 at 10:05 am
What I liked so much about the defense yesterday was how well they tackled and the defensive plan. The Bucs dared the Lions to throw short and they did. The reason the Bucs defense stopped them is the speed of strength of McCollum, Izien, Whitehead, Dennis and Smith was unbelievable. Those guys were getting those 5/6 yard pass catchers and immediately putting them to the ground. It was fantastic to watch such young players making plays.
You just have to admire a team that has a below average pass rush still being able to force an opponent to take what they can and lose the yardage and time of possession but still tackle, intercept and cause fumbles.
By the way was Bowles able to review the catch and fumble that was ruled incomplete. That receiver had more than enough time to make a football move and 100% had possession of the ball. Is there something in the rulebook that the Bucs knew it couldn’t be challenged?
September 16th, 2024 at 10:15 am
That’s good humble pie for him bcuz they like lion soup on this Victory Monday
September 16th, 2024 at 10:33 am
Why didn’t Todd challenge the fumble?
September 16th, 2024 at 10:35 am
It’s amazing what getting rid of Ryan Neal and Devin White will fo for a defense. They cost us 4 games last season. Major difference with Whitehead and Britt/Dennis. LFG!
September 16th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Brandon.
I remember that one. How about the out to McMillon early in the 4th Q where the guy grabbed him by the shoulder pads so he couldn’t turn to catch it? That was a 1st down and I like our chances to gets points. Those were the two worst ones. The Lions missed one in the 1st Q on the interception. The Bucs DB clearly grabbed the WR before the pick.
As bad as it was I thought it was better officiating than most of the games.
September 16th, 2024 at 10:58 am
Just think about it. Miami had both of them as interim head coaches and didn’t hire them permanently. Now, they got Capri pants wearing McDaniel and diva Tyreek running that into the ground.
September 16th, 2024 at 11:11 am
I couldn’t watch live. What the hell was that announcer wearing? Looked like a table cloth with a camo tie. They irritated the crap out of ne. Just the constant boot licking of the Lions. Oh look Campbell made a massive mistake and said it’s on me. Wow just wow what a man he’s a hero they love to play for him in Detroit over and over. We get it he chews knee caps and all that.
September 16th, 2024 at 11:18 am
Why are you blocking my comment?
September 16th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Dan Campbell made one critical mistake: He underestimated his old former colleague, Todd Bowles, and Bowles’ team. Understandable. The Detroit Lions are one of the oldest franchises in the NFL. They have never been in a Super Bowl. Yeah, you read it right cos I just looked it up. Campbell is putting together that team. I hope the Bucs play the Lions in the NFC Championship Game at the end of the season. If the Lions are the better team and win, I won’t shed tears over it.
September 16th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Who says Joe is blocking your comment?
September 16th, 2024 at 11:53 am
@Cometowin2 they mentioned on the broadcast that he would have lost the challenge. Not sure I agree with that but that was the comment by the broadcast ref
September 16th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
I find it very humorous how folks complain about calls that went against the Bucs but do not mention the illegal contact by our defender 10 yards down the field that threw off the route and caused Goff to throw a pick.
September 16th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
I am still amazed that we won with so many starters out. If the Lions made that first field goal we still win by one point. The coaches must do a terrific job getting our young guys ready. It was a game to remember.
September 16th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Such an incredible, feel good Win.
Greg Gaines, SirVoncea Dennis, Christian Izien are gonna be stars in this league.
Zyon McCollom is gonna e a Superstar
And I wouldn’t trade Baker Mayfield for ANY OTHER QB IN THE LEAGUE!
And I mean that with all my Heart.
Terrible line play.
Absolutely no Running game.
No TE help. Not blocking or catching passes.
Yet he wins
I go back and watch the games. I don’t know how he does it.
And with all due modesty- I know a little about Football.
And so do the people who keep predicting the Bucs will lose.
They aren’t “picking on” the Bucs. They are looking at the stats.
No way way the Bucs should win.
But they do.
I don’t believe any team has been last in rushing, last in TE production, near the Bottom in Sacks allowed, not a great defense( until yesterday).
Yet they win.
And it’s Mayfield.
Just an incredible win
September 16th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
On that “fumble”, it was too bang bang live to be a fumble post a move. I thought it was fumble too and thought it at least should have been reviewed
September 16th, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Was the title of this article was written by a freshman in high school. Who writes like that?
September 16th, 2024 at 3:48 pm
Yeah Lions fans are absolutely livid about that mistake before the half when they had too many men on the field… but here’s the thing:
Let’s say that make that FG. That means it’s 20-19 towards the end of the game, and all the Lions need is another FG to pull ahead… so they’re not going for it on 4th down multiple times, nor are they needing to drive as far down the field. So they probably end up kicking a FG and going up 22-20, but giving the Bucs the ball back with a minute or so left, and all we would need is a FG to pull ahead.
September 16th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
Bucs fan-
I talked about that PI noncall they benefited the Bucs. I even said the officials called it a decent game.
September 16th, 2024 at 6:58 pm
This would be a nice NFC Championship game ,,, In Tampa of course 😉