Lions coach Dan Campbell loves that the race atop the NFC and NFC North remains tight with four weeks left.
The Detroit Lions are 12-1, on an 11-game winning streak, and are a perfect 4-0 in division play. For most teams in most seasons, that would be enough to have the division wrapped up with four weeks to go and have a stranglehold on the conference’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs. That’s not the case this year. The only thing the Lions have wrapped up thus far is a playoff spot.
In the division, the Minnesota Vikings are just a game behind with their 11-2 record. Over in the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles are just a game behind the Lions for the top seed in the NFC.
Given Detroit is off to a historic start, it’d be understandable to be a little frustrated that even in their best start in franchise history, they have to deal with two other behemoths in the conference. Both the Chiefs (12-1) and Bills (10-4) have already clinched their respective divisions, yet the Lions still have plenty of work to do.
But Lions coach Dan Campbell isn’t frustrated at all. In fact, he loves the pressure it continues to provide the team.
“I love it, I think it’s great. I think it’s great for us, I think, yeah, I think it does, it keeps you sharp,” Campbell said. “I think—I’ve mentioned this before, I think we do well with pressure and it’s the right kind of friction and stress that we need and it’s motivating. And so, yeah, I love it, I think it’s great.”
On top of having two teams nipping at their heels, the Lions also have a tough road ahead. Their remaining strength of schedule (.596) is the 10th hardest in the NFL. Although the Vikings’ schedule is actually tougher by win percentage (fourth, .635), while the Eagles’ schedule is on the easier end (18th, .481).
But Campbell doesn’t care much about what the schedules look like. He’s under the assumption those teams aren’t going to lose down the stretch.
“Look, nobody’s going to lose, nobody’s losing, so we’re going.”
Campbell also believes Detroit’s tough schedule—starting last week with the Packers—has the added benefit of getting the team ready for the playoffs.
“I feel like we are in playoff football in a sense,” Campbell said. “I know that we got in but this is about more than that. We’ve given ourselves an opportunity postseason which is great, that’s all you need and so we’ve got that. But any time you play the best of the best, the best competition, you can’t help but get better. Whatever it takes to win those games, you learn how to win those games. You learn a new way to win.”
That opportunity to find a way to win continues this week against a Buffalo Bills team that has beaten Detroit four straight times, dating back to the Lions’ last victory in 2006.
