Campbell: Outside Noise Can Be Issue, Has Faith Team Will Not Crumble

Why Campbell has faith Lions team will handle immense pressure.

The Detroit Lions know what they're up against in the NFC Championship game. 

San Francisco poses a tough test on both sides of the ball. As a result, the Lions know that they will have to perform at an elite level in order to advance to the Super Bowl. 

However, coach Dan Campbell admitted that the biggest challenge facing his team is not one it will deal with on the field. As a result of advancing to this stage, the team has drawn plenty of extra attention from the outside. 

For a young team and an organization that has made the NFC Championship game just once before, navigating the extra obligations can be a struggle. 

"It's no different than anything else, we talk about it every week. Just, you've got to put all that behind you. You can't let that be the main thing," Campbell said Wednesday. "Your focus has got to be on this game plan, this opponent, because the most important thing is that your teammate knows you're gonna handle your business.

"It's not about the outside things. Here we are, this is the biggest issue right now. Most of the time I come in here, there's about 20 of you," Campbell commented further. "Now there's a whole packed room, people I don't even recognize. That's what our players are dealing with, it's all the extra attention outside of the norm. That's the issue, it's not the opponent. It has it's own issues that we'll deal with, but it's all the outside attention where they're getting pulled from every area." 

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The Lions have an aura of confidence about them despite a relative inexperience. San Francisco has played in four of the last five NFC Championship games, while this is a foreign territory for many of Detroit's players. 

However, Campbell has reiterated throughout the season that the team he and Brad Holmes have assembled is built for moments such as what they will encounter Sunday. 

With a blend of talent, grit and resilience, there is no lack of confidence among those at the team's Allen Park headquarters. 

“I think it, look everything starts with ability. You have to have ability in this league, we have ability. But deeper than that, you have to be able to handle the ebbs and flows of a game in a season and playoffs," Campbell said. "That’s what has been built for three years now, so that’s what gives me faith."

Detroit has weathered the storm in each of its first two playoff games. In particular, the defense has bent plenty but, as shown by their performance in the red zone against Los Angeles, has simply been unwilling to break. 

This resolve is the exact ingredient that the Lions will need to defeat San Francisco. It's also the element that gives Campbell faith in his team going forward. 

"Look, there’s gonna be things that are gonna happen in this game that, it’s gonna look like it’s out of control and it’s not gonna go well for us," Campbell explained. "As long as we just play the next play, it’ll turn. And that’s what we’ve done all year and that’s the most important thing to keep in mind. But you have to be made a certain way and the team has to be made a certain way to be able to hand that, otherwise you just crumble. That’s what gives me faith, we have a team that’s built that way.”

Notes

1.) Zach Ertz was present at the Lions' facility Wednesday. Campbell was non-committal on whether or not the veteran tight end will be used in Sunday's game. He will be evaluated throughout the week.