Campbell Admits Lions Dug Hole After Thanksgiving Loss

Coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the Detroit Lions have "dug themselves a little bit of a hole" following their Thanksgiving Day defeat. The loss extended their dismal record on Thanksgiving to 1-8 over the last nine contests, significantly slimmed their NFC North title hopes. The team faced further adversity with multiple key players sustaining injuries during the game, including star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is expected to miss a couple of weeks.

The Lions' offense showed flashes despite being shorthanded, with rookie Isaac TeSlaa and veteran Jameson Williams making notable plays. Williams recorded a career-high 144 receiving yards and a touchdown. However, critical moments, like a failed fourth-down conversion with under eleven minutes remaining, proved costly. Quarterback Jared Goff expressed frustration over a missed connection on fourth down, believing it was a play that could have changed the game's momentum.

Campbell, who has taken over playcalling duties, expressed that the team needs to convert on crucial downs, especially on third and fourth downs, to turn their season around. The Lions' inability to convert on fourth downs has become a stark issue, as they are tied for the most attempts in the league without a conversion since Week 11. This ongoing struggle, coupled with injuries, puts the team in a challenging position as they look to rebound in upcoming games.