Dan Campbell Got 'Great Perspective' Watching 49ers Dominate Cowboys

Are the Lions in the same class as the 49ers?

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell caught some of the San Francisco 49ers' dominant performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. 

The undefeated 49ers (5-0) were able to defeat the Cowboys handily, 42-10, in Week 5. 

Detroit's third-year head coach understands he has a young squad, but is not unaware of which teams in the NFC stand in the way of the Lions reaching their ultimate goals. 

"I think, for me, it puts everything in perspective. Look, we've got a long way to go, it's a long season, we've got Tampa coming up," said Campbell. "But, when you watch that, man, you see what it is. I think it gives you great perspective, it gave me great perspective watching them." 

For Detroit, playing a physical brand of football has put the team in position to not only have success in the regular season, but also in the postseason. 

“I just think for our players, they’re so used to, that’s who we are. That’s part of our identity. We’ll always be known, in my opinion, as a tough team. We should be a tough, physical team -- offense, defense, special teams," said Campbell, when asked about the team's creative play-calling and aggressiveness weekly. "If you’re just tough and you’re just physical and you have no creativity, you’re not going to do anything with it. You’ll bang away. But, I think that gives you just a little bit of an edge. 

"I watched San Fran last night. I think that’s one of the reasons (Kyle) Shanahan has done an unbelievable job, but those guys are physical, tough, and man, very creative in the run and pass game. That’s what makes them so difficult, I think. And they play outstanding defense. ..."

Early in the season, it appears that Detroit is the third-best team in the NFC, only behind the 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Any edge the Lions can obtain, to continue their growth throughout the season, will be discovered by Campbell and the coaching staff.