Detroit Lions’ Bold Decision: Playing Starters in a High-Stakes Rematch
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The question loomed large over the Detroit Lions’ camp: Should he? Or shouldn’t he? As the “Monday Night Football” clash against the San Francisco 49ers approached, Lions coach Dan Campbell found himself at a crossroads. Should he rest his starters or let them take the field in a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game?
After much deliberation, Campbell opted to play his top players, a decision that paid off as the Lions emerged victorious with a 40-34 win over the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Importantly, they managed to avoid any major injuries in the process.
“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,” Campbell said. “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.”
Campbell’s decision wasn’t just about strategy; it was about fairness and preparation. “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,” he explained. “So, yeah, that was tough, and I think the biggest thing is there were things we wanted to do better than we did last week and we did. We cleaned a lot of things up offensively.”
Despite the game lacking playoff implications, the Lions were playing for pride. The memory of last postseason’s 17-point halftime lead slip against the same team, which cost them a Super Bowl berth, still lingered.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph, who snagged two interceptions, expressed the team’s sentiment. “I really wanted that get-back,” he said. “I feel like we came in here last year and they beat us, so I still had that chip on my shoulder from last year. Like they say in the media, this game didn’t really mean much, but this game meant a lot.”
Quarterback Jared Goff echoed Joseph’s feelings. In his California homecoming, Goff threw for 303 passing yards, completing 26-of-34 passes with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He entered the game with a competitive mindset, having dismissed the idea of sitting out early in the week.
Goff’s performance marked the seventh game this season where he threw for three touchdowns, tying Matthew Stafford (2011) for the most in a season in Lions history. “I’m sure that’s tough for him, but I think that’s the only way we know,” Goff said of Campbell’s decision. “It’s just go and find a way to win and the team we were playing in San Francisco. This is what ended our season last year and there were a lot of guys on this team that were there last year that wanted to get one back on them.”
Looking ahead, the Lions are gearing up to face the Minnesota Vikings at home on Sunday night. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with the NFC North Division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed on the line.
For Campbell, this is a golden opportunity. Detroit is one of five teams since seeding began in 1975 that has never been a No. 1 seed, alongside the Cardinals, Texans, Buccaneers, and Jets.
- Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
- NFC North Division Title
- NFC’s No. 1 Seed
“This is what you’re in it for, man. Ultimately, this is it,” Campbell said. “I mean, you couldn’t write a better scenario. You couldn’t come up with this. The fact that both teams are sitting at 14-2 and it’s for the division and the 1 seed. It just doesn’t get any better than that. It’s like this is fairytale stuff. And so, it speaks for itself. Our guys are excited.”
Originally Written by: Eric Woodyard
