Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell stood by his decision to go for it on a pair of crucial fourth-down situations during the NFC championship against the San Francisco 49ers, both of which ended up backfiring.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Lions quarterback Jared Goff voiced his support for Campbell’s decision-making, saying that he was on board with keeping the offense on the field rather than attempting to go for a field goal.
“Love it. Love it,” said Goff, via Kimberly A. Martin of ESPN. “It shows he believes in us.”
Although the decisions didn’t work out for Detroit on Sunday, it’s a philosophy Campbell has practiced throughout the season. The Lions have been one of the most aggressive teams on fourth-down situations throughout Campbell’s tenure as coach, and even with a Super Bowl berth on the line, the 47-year-old didn’t balk from his preferred aggressive style.
Goff appreciates the level of belief his coach shows in the offense, and made it clear that he was on board with the decision to go for it on fourth down, even in the NFC championship.
The Lions remain without a Super Bowl appearance in the franchise’s history, and they just enjoyed one of their best seasons ever. Though Campbell’s aggressive play-calling may have generated some controversy, his team appear to be fully backing his approach whether it fails or succeeds.
