Lions Are in 'Race' to Play Giants

Dan Campbell is focused on getting Detroit Lions ready for joint practices in August with N.Y. Giants.

The Detroit Lions will be juggling some major expectations as they get ready for the 2023 season.

The Dan Campbell-led squad, which finished in second place and outside of the playoffs a season ago, has become a heavy favorite to win the NFC North division. 

There is also a myriad of fans and pundits alike that expect the Lions to win a playoff game this upcoming season. It's something the franchise hasn't done since the 1991 season.

Despite the significant expectations that have been placed upon the organization, Campbell & Co. are not getting ahead of themselves. They understand the importance of focusing on what's in front of them, instead of looking ahead to the start of the regular season.

In fact, the third-year Detroit head man is currently focused on getting his team ready for joint practices with the N.Y. Giants, which are set to kick off Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Lions' Allen Park practice facility. Those practices will lead in to Detroit's 2023 preseason opener against the Giants, at Ford Field, on August 11.

"I’m really more in the mode of, man, we’re in a race to get ready for the Giants," Campbell told reporters on Day 1 of training camp practice Sunday. "I break it into those segments. We need to really, in my opinion, identify who’s who, who we can count on to an extent before we get to the Giants, because I’d like to have a real good feel of those guys. And now, you’re getting those guys to work together for the Giants, Jacksonville, which in turn is going to help you get ready for Kansas City."

Although training camp has just kicked off, Campbell doesn't want to waste any time with getting his team on the same page. 

"We do have enough time, but we don’t have time to waste," Campbell expressed. "We’re in a race here, and so – look, it’s really about, I bring it up again, it’s chemistry. It’s the communication. It’s guys working together, that backend working together. The offensive line, the rapport, the receivers and (Lions quarterback Jared) Goff. That’s really what it is. That’ll always be what it is.”

The Lions squared off with the Giants in a Week 11 road contest last season, and prevailed victorious, 31-18. It was a game that saw Detroit score four times on the ground, including three times courtesy of now ex-Lions running back Jamaal Williams. 

Jared Goff, entering his third season as Detroit's starting signal-caller, also has his mind set on preparing for the team's week of practices and subsequent exhibition tilt with the Giants.

"I think it’s – that’s a defense that we played last year, that we know comes with its own set of rules and set of strategies for it," Goff said about facing the New York-based NFC franchise. "And, I think knowing that that’s on the horizon is fun and that there is – we can’t just practice every day and not leading up to a game – we get to practice leading up to that, which, coming up, I believe in what like two weeks? So, yeah, it’s fun. It’s exciting, and we’ll get them. We’ll get Jacksonville, and then get Carolina and then we’re rolling. But, yeah, it’s fun.”