The Detroit Lions are used to being overlooked and underrated, with it being the story of a franchise that has yet to win a Super Bowl. Last year was supposed to be the season that this finally happened, with Detroit being in an unfamiliar position of being the NFC favorites. Instead, injuries ravaged the roster, and the Lions would become a first-round exit to the Washington Commanders. This led to this season, where drama and failed expectations have now put the team in a familiar position.
ESPN's Eric Woodyard shared comments from head coach Dan Campbell that followed this exact sentiment. Offering the following on falling to 5-3 and perhaps becoming a bit overlooked: "It's good to be a little bit of an afterthought again, it's nice." The head coach expounds that the Lions have been in this role and thrived.
It is the gritty mindset the team must get back to after being distracted by being the favorites and the drama around ex-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's departure. New OC John Morton has been a lightning rod of questions and frustration, in many ways, which is the polar opposite of who the Lions have previously been since Campbell took over.
Lions HC Dan Campbell Relishes Underdog Status
The Lions aren't a group that has ever made excuses or thrown anyone under the bus as a part of any problems the roster might be facing. It is a gritty roster that thrives in an underdog role and loves to play beyond expectations. With this in mind, Campbell is noting that the change in attitude towards the franchise could likely work in their favor.
It's a weapon that Detroit has so often yielded in the past and must find once again. Put away all of the critiques of Morton and the questions of who might be to blame for your slow start. This isn't an outlook or thought process that Campbell's previous teams have ever embraced.
We are well past the time for the roster to again take on an overlooked attitude and focus on the task ahead each week. As great as last season's domination might have been, it still fell flat in the end. It is fair to wonder if the Lions were losing themselves, even then, taking for granted the high-powered offense that seemingly always found a way to win.
Being pushed back into a familiar role is perhaps healthier and will offer challenges now that will help steel the outlook of its players when January rolls around. As much noise as sports media and Detroit, in particular, might be making about the franchise, all of this can work in the favor of the Lions.
Campbell is correct in his approach to the subject, that the Lions' underdog status isn't something to run from or challenge, but to embrace. This means putting aside all the questions about Morton and what the offense might do better, and a more focused group effort on putting aside egos and once again embracing the overlooked role the team thrived in during the 2023 season.
The Lions rode this all the way to the NFC Championship that year, where they remained in control for much of the game before a more experienced San Francisco 49ers team completed a frustrating comeback. Now, the Lions are the ones with the experience and are now able to once again claim the advantage of being overlooked and underrated.