Dan Campbell is under fire for his game management after the Detroit Lions blew a 17-point lead in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Specifically, his decision to forego field goals in favor of fourth-down attempts in the second half is causing debate. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo entered the discourse on Monday, expressing his displeasure with Campbell’s decision-making.
While Russo blames statistics, I believe the actual issue is Campbell’s unshakable conviction in his team. Throughout the season, he remained to his philosophy, which often worked to their advantage. Unfortunately, it did not work out in the most important game of the season, and some say that postseason coaching, particularly on the road, should differ.
Campbell’s identity was evident from the outset, and he stuck to it. It’s easy to criticize him now, but remember that if Josh Reynolds had caught a pass on fourth-and-2 from San Francisco’s 28 late in the third quarter, the Lions could have won. Campbell can’t catch the ball for his teammates, and things don’t always go your way.
