Dan Campbell made a strong impression in 2023 with his all-out coaching approach, which included going for it on practically every critical fourth-down situation the Detroit Lions faced.
That concept was much more than a strategic decision depending on the Lions’ position in any one game. It was all about instilling a dominant mentality in the team, demonstrating that there was no reason to be satisfied or even happy with three points per possession instead of seven.
For the majority of the season, the Lions benefited from this attitude.
The squad easily won the NFC North title, its first division triumph since 1993. The Lions also won two postseason games and nearly defeated the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Campbell’s all-or-nothing, go-for-it approach cost him in the championship game.
Perhaps Campbell will consider settling for three at crucial points in the future.
He obviously has to learn something from the championship game loss. Unless Campbell has a squad like the 1970s Steelers dynasty or the 1985 Bears, his team will not win every game. They are not going to wipe the floor with their opponents on a weekly basis.
Coaching in the NFL is more than merely bludgeoning the opposition, as every championship-level coach knows. Campbell must add the strategic field goal or punt into his thinking.
The Lions were losing 27-24 midway into the fourth quarter and had the ball at the Niner 30 on a fourth-and-three play, but instead of tying the score with a field goal, he had Jared Goff throw a deep bomb to Amon-Ra St. Brown, which sailed incomplete.
The Lions were deflated, and San Francisco stretched its lead to twelve points on the next drive, placing the visitors in an almost impossible situation.
It’s one thing to go for it in a midseason game against a losing team, but not against an outstanding opponent at the most important period of the season.
There is no certainty that hard-headed Campbell will change his philosophy by 2024. If he does not become more adaptive, the Lions may struggle to realize the potential that so many onlookers saw during the last season.
It might open things up for Matt LaFleur and the Packers, who found their groove this year at the final minute and appear to be well-positioned for the future.
The spotlight is now on Jordan Love, who was great in his first year in charge in Green Bay. He observed how plays opened up and the ball was thrown precisely to a group of decent but not exceptional receivers. Love should only improve, and the consensus here is that Green Bay has the strongest defense in the division.
Both Detroit and Minnesota made progress in that regard, but pass defense proved to be major difficulties for both teams. The Packers concluded the season ranked ninth in passing yards allowed per game and tenth in points scored.
Jeff Hafley,The Vikings and Bears both have major offseason challenges. Minnesota must answer the quarterback dilemma, and what can they realistically anticipate if they bring back 36-year-old Kirk Cousins?
Is he truly going to start beating elite teams after recovering from his Achilles injury? He has not been able to accomplish this in his first 12 years.
There is no debate about his accurate passing and his demeanor off the field and in the locker room, but he has yet to demonstrate his ability to win on a continuous basis.
the new defensive coordinator, will be working with defensive end Kenny Clark, edge rusher Rashan Gary, inside backer Quay Walker, outside backer Preston Smith, and cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Packers’ defense could be elite by 2024.
The Bears must decide what to do with the number one pick.
Most experts predict the Bears will break ways with Justin Fields and choose Caleb Williams of USC, connecting their future to a quarterback who could follow in the footsteps of Byrce Young.
He was the Carolina Panthers’ No. 1 draft pick a year ago, but he was a bust. Drafting Williams might lead to the same type of calamity for the Bears.
The NFC North division is rapidly changing. The Lions and Packers have an iron grasp at this stage, while Minnesota and Chicago struggle to answer even the most fundamental football issues.
