Dan Campbell had a restless night on Sunday. Still, it could have been worse.
In a game that ended shortly before midnight on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions began their season against the Los Angeles Rams 26–20, but only after overtime.
Campbell remarked on Monday afternoon, “Look, it is hard to sleep after any game, especially when you get home at 1:00 or 2:00 or whatever that was.” “No matter how tired you are, you cannot sleep because your mind is racing with all the different things that went wrong or right.”
Defensive lineman Alim McNeill said he alternated between watching Netflix episodes of “Reba” and game films till 4 a.m.
“What did he say he was doing?” Campbell chuckled. “I know what Mac is talking about because I remember what it was like to be a player. You’re replaying every scene from the play.
For a large portion of the game, the Lions didn’t appear like a Super Bowl contender. At Ford Field, they led another comeback lead by Matthew Stafford, although they were ahead 17-3 early in the third quarter.
With 4:30 remaining and a weak offensive line along with the absence of star wide receiver Puka Nacua due to a knee injury, Stafford found Cooper Kupp for a touchdown throw to put the Rams ahead 20–17.
“Man, Stafford, you almost don’t want to hit him because, in my opinion, that’s when he plays at his best,” Campbell remarked. He simply never stops writing plays.
When the Lions went three and out, Stafford misthrew Kupp on a ball that could have finished the game, giving the Rams a chance to win. Rewarded with another chance, Jared Goff drove the ball deep into Los Angeles territory by taking advantage of a pivotal Rams penalty.
