The controversial loss against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 could be etched in memory as one of the most disputed events of the 2023 season for the Detroit Lions. Despite Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressing visible frustration on the sidelines due to a contentious penalty nullifying Detroit’s potential go-ahead 2-point conversion, he emphasized that he and his team are putting it behind them.
While Campbell was notably upset in his postgame press conference, he adopted a more composed demeanor when addressing reporters on January 1. Maintaining control over his emotions, Campbell outlined the approach the Lions coaching staff and players intend to take for the remainder of the season following the narrow 20-19 defeat in Week 17.
“I possess a controlled fury, and I’m ready to move forward. Absolutely prepared. I don’t dwell on the negative. The team won’t either,” Campbell conveyed to the media. “We’re on a mission, and we won’t indulge in self-pity. We had opportunities to make plays, but we fell short. It was a closely contested game against a formidable opponent, with a playoff-like atmosphere. In such situations, you need to make that one additional play that we failed to execute.
“We will leverage this experience as motivation. I have a reservoir of pure determination right now. I woke up, and I’m geared up. So, we’re pressing ahead.”
