Dan Campbell Envisioned Lions Competing with 'Big Boys'

Lions have emerged as one of top teams in NFL.

The Detroit Lions are headed to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 32 years. Yes, I’m talking about the same Lions team that had won just one playoff game since 1957 prior to beating the L.A. Rams last week.

And, just like a week ago against the Rams, Detroit had to exert its signature “grit” Sunday to come out on top against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a brand of physicality and toughness that the Lions have adopted from their head coach Dan Campbell.

Ironically enough, Detroit’s divisional round playoff victory comes three years to the day of Campbell’s introductory press conference in Motown.

At the time of the presser, Campbell wasn’t viewed nearly as glowingly as he is today by fans and pundits alike. Many media members and Lions supporters, in fact, didn’t think he was fit for the job, and failed to take him seriously, especially after his comments about “biting kneecaps.”

Fast-forward three years, though, and Campbell has become one of the most widely respected NFL head coaches.

“To each his own,” Campbell said in the postgame Sunday, as he referenced those who were critical of him after his introductory media session. “We’re going to the NFC Championship Game with that group of guys, alright. And, they love football, they play football. And, that’s what they respect, and they respect their teammates and not anything else. And, you know, when you’re able to care more about the person next to you than your own self, you can do some pretty special things, and that’s where we’re at with this group.”

Fans React to Second Straight Playoff Win: Lions Are Team of Destiny

Campbell has taken the Lions from an irrelevant, three-win team in his inaugural season to a team that can now compete with the NFL’s best organizations on the biggest of stages.

Detroit’s disposing of Tampa Bay Sunday was the latest example of it. And, the third-year head man now has the Lions one win away from their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

“I envisioned that we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that’s where we’re at,” Campbell said, when asked about whether he could have imagined being a win away from the Super Bowl when he was hired three years ago. “All you’ve got to do is get in, and it’s about placing yourself in the very best position to where you can move. You get a home game and then maybe you get a second home game, and now all of a sudden, it gets a little easier. If you’re able to get a one seed, you’ve only got to win two games. And so, that’s always the objective.

“But, ultimately, once you get in, then it’s about matchups, and you find a way to win and you may have to win 2-0 and it’s okay. It’s okay. A win’s a win in the playoffs. So, here we are and now we get to go to San Francisco, and we know what kind of team that is. But, we’re in a great position. We’ve got a great opportunity.”

The Lions will take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Levi's Stadium.