Don’t Tell Rich That the Detroit Lions’ Super Bowl Window Is Closed

The narrative around Detroit has been set for weeks. The window is closing. Dan Campbell isn't the same without Ben Johnson. Rich has heard it all, and after watching the Lions handle Arizona, he isn't buying it.

His case started with the opponent. A lot of people think the Cardinals aren't all that, but Rich pointed out they have real talent, starting with a tight end in Trey McBride who may wind up being first-team All-Pro. Their offense can put points on you, and Rich expected Detroit to have its hands full.

"And they did the trick," he said.

While watching, Rich was texting with some of his Michigan buddies who are also Lions fans, and they wanted to know why the starters were still in the game. Rich's answer: because this team can't take any reps off at all, and he didn't think the head coach would want it any other way.

Sure enough, Campbell's reaction to that exact question went viral. Asked about the balance of pulling guys to keep them fresh for the division, with Gibbs and the starters in late while up 21, Campbell started with "No, look, I'm with you," then went on for two minutes.

Rich's read on the moment was that Campbell knows only one speed, and that includes how he treats his own players. Sam LaPorta's description of the week of practice between the Sunday night loss in Carolina and the win in Arizona backed that up.

"Anytime you messed up something small, he made it a big thing because the little things are important, and I think that was on display today," LaPorta said. "Coach Campbell can be an intimidating guy. He's 6'6, former player... When he's out there barking at you, it doesn't feel good. And in those moments you feel 2 feet tall, but then on game day you feel 10 feet tall when you make the plays."

"That's the coaching," Rich said.

The postgame locker room only strengthened the point. Campbell told his players never to accept less than what they're capable of, as people, as players, as husbands, and as fathers. "You keep your standards where they belong. You don't accept mediocrity. That's not what this league is," he shouted. "We had a good week of practice. We stressed each other. We came out here and we handled our business. And it wasn't perfect. We got so much room to grow."

"I hope he's the Lions head coach forever," came the reaction in the room. Rich agreed that Campbell is "perfect for this city and this state," and that he's about more than football. He noted Campbell gave a game ball to the team's longtime play-by-play announcer, who just lost his wife to cancer. And the first game ball? It went to LaPorta, the same player who described Campbell riding the team all week.

Rich admitted some of this may be wish-casting, since he picked the Lions to win the NFC North. But with Drew Petzing's offense, as one voice in the room put it, "off the hook," Rich believes Detroit can win it all if the defense tightens up. The schedule makes that urgent: after the bye come home dates with Green Bay and Minnesota, then a trip to Miami and a game in Germany against the Patriots.

"You've got to hold serve in division at home," Rich said.

At three and two, Detroit sits second in the NFC North odds behind the 5-0 Vikings, with the Bears slightly behind and the Packers at seven to one. Chicago is waiting on Caleb Williams, who was a full participant in practice.

As for the idea that Campbell isn't the same without Johnson, Rich flipped it. "Well, maybe he's not the same coach without Dan Campbell. I don't know," he said. "I do love this division."