Dan Campbell has plans for New Orleans in February.
Lions coach reveals team plans to play 11 more games this season (eight regular season, two playoffs, 2025 Super Bowl) We talked about how we delayed the activation of Darius Smith. Texan.
“It's never an easy decision,” Campbell said on 97.1 The Ticket. “We've got 11 games left here and we're going to need him in every game and every time we get a little bit closer to the end, the game becomes a little bit more important. We felt it was the right thing to do. Yes. We’re excited to move him forward.”
Host Jim Costa responded, “I think we're all counting on 11 games.”
The Lions (8-1) have the best record in the NFC, the best odds to win the NFC, and the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl behind the back-to-back Chiefs.
If Philadelphia (7-2) and Minnesota (7-2) can maintain the No. 1 seed with a one-game difference, they only need two wins in the playoffs to clinch their first Super Bowl appearance.
Last year's team blew a 17-point lead at halftime in the NFC Championship Game, lost to the 49ers on the road, and fell one game short of the Super Bowl.
Campbell made it clear to his team that he wants the NFC to go through Ford Field this time before facing the AFC champions at Caesars Superdome.
“Our players know that, that was one of the things that was talked about in training camp. We have to work backwards,” Campbell said during an interview. “As I said before, you can't keep saying the end game is the end game. Yes, we all know that. Now, what do we have to do?
“You have to win your division and you want to be that division (seed) if you can. That's where it's at. The whole focus of it is to split up and get that one seed. It increases the odds, but It just helps you. …That’s what we’re shooting.”
Campbell hasn't been shy about mentioning his Super Bowl ambitions since taking over as the Lions' head coach before the 2021 season.
He said in his inaugural press conference that ultimately the Lions would be the last team left standing, saying before the 2024 season:I can see the super bowl”
Detroit hosts lowly Jacksonville on Sunday to begin a relatively light three-game series, before entering a tough battle with the Packers, 49ers, Bills and Vikings in the remaining five games.
