Dan Campbell isn’t letting the Detroit Lions’ offense off the hook just because the defense has taken the heat early in the 2026 NFL season.
With Kelvin Sheppard’s unit drawing plenty of scrutiny, Campbell used his weekly radio spot on 97.1 The Ticket to make it clear he expects more from the other side of the ball, too. In his view, the standard for a team that wants to be special starts with piling up points.
"Man, if you want to be great, they should want to score 35 points a game, at a minimum. That's what greatness is.
That's what they're charged with. We've got plenty of weapons on offense and if we're gonna accept mediocrity, then yeah, we can make all the excuses in the world," said Campbell.
"If we want to spit and sputter and be average, that's one thing. We're not going to be average.
We're going to raise the floor on these guys, man. We're going to push 'em.
"We've got too much offensively right now. Our quarterback's too good, our playmakers are too good, and we've got a young, hungry offensive line that's got a ton of room to grow."
Campbell’s comments come as the Lions continue to hear criticism for how poorly the defense has played, and he hasn’t avoided the subject. He has already pointed to Kelvin Sheppard and the need for the defense to find ways to improve, while also suggesting after the Panthers loss that some new players could get chances to help stabilize things.
Penalties have also been part of the problem. Detroit was flagged nine times against Carolina, and Campbell said that kind of undisciplined football has to be handled in a straightforward way.
“I think you just go back to what we did when we started. You pull them out and then if it continues to be an issue in the game, you put other guys in.
I mean, that's kind of what you have to do. And if you're on the clock, then you keep them in for a play and then you get them out the very next play.
So that's really the only way to do it to this point," said Campbell. "I trust that we'll get there and that's on us as coaches.
"Starts with me and we're the ones who have to demand that," Campbell added. "And I thought we did a pretty good job during training camp, but you get on the road, and you don't respond very well to it. It's an issue because that's what this League is.”
In Other News...
Darius Slay Just Said What Lions Fans Fear About This Secondary
Darius Slay has never been shy about giving his old team an honest evaluation, and his latest comments land at a time when the Lions are still trying to steady a defense that has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The former Detroit cornerback pointed to Carlton Davis as the player he thought fit best in the scheme and said letting him leave in free agency was the clubs biggest recent misstep, a remark that will sound familiar to anyone who has watched the secondary struggle to find consistency.
Slay also took aim at the broader direction of the defense under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the issues in the back end go beyond one departure and reflect a need for a different philosophy. He did leave open a sliver of intrigue about his own future, saying he might entertain a return for the right offer, though he made clear he is comfortable with life after football for now. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]