Dan Campbell isn’t worried about the Lions being behind the curve in Munich.
Detroit landed in Germany on Friday morning, a day after the New England Patriots arrived in Munich on Thursday morning, and the timing has already stirred the usual conversation around international travel. The NFL’s overseas schedule has become a talking point this season, especially after the Los Angeles Rams’ quick trip to Australia earlier in the year.
The Rams flew in the day before their game and left right after it ended, while the 49ers spent the entire week there before the season opener. San Francisco rolled to a 27-7 win, and plenty of people pointed to the travel setup as a possible reason Los Angeles looked flat.
The Lions’ situation is nowhere near that extreme, but the gap still gives some critics a reason to wonder whether Detroit gave itself enough time to adjust. Campbell, though, sounded completely comfortable with the plan when he spoke to reporters in Munich.
“Very confident. Very confident. I know today will be the hardest day,” Campbell said.
That’s because the last 24 hours have been a grind. The Lions had a normal Thursday in Detroit with meetings, practice, and media availability before boarding a flight to Munich later that night. They arrived around 8:30 a.m. local time, which was 2:30 a.m. in Detroit, and then jumped straight into team meetings and a walkthrough practice after whatever rest they could get on the plane.
“We went from the plane; we have got settled in. About an hour later we have got into meetings, and you’re doing a little bit of the head bob,” Campbell admitted.
Even so, Campbell believes the team will have plenty of time to get its legs under it before Sunday’s game against the Patriots. With more than 48 hours before kickoff, he expects the Lions to adjust as the hours tick by.
“We have got up and moved around, and I know that every eight hours here, we’re going to begin to acclimate,” Campbell said. “I know by the time we hit Sunday morning into that Sunday afternoon game, we’re going to be ready to go. So, we will be primed and ready, and I feel very good about our plan.”
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Dan Campbell brought a little extra personality to the Lions' week in Munich before the matchup with the Patriots, turning a routine press conference into a reminder of why he remains one of the league's most entertaining coaches. Asked about the trip, Campbell leaned into the setting with a self-aware take on his limited German and even poked fun at his own efforts to pick up a few words along the way.
He also said he planned to try German beer during the visit, which only added to the light tone around a Lions team trying to stay loose while handling the business of an overseas game. Campbell has never been shy about mixing humor with his message, and this stop in Germany gave him another chance to do it in front of a crowd that seemed to enjoy every bit of it. [Read more 🡒]
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There is also some pressure on the passing game to get more out of wide receiver TeSlaa, who has yet to make much of an impact this season. Detroit needs more from that spot if it wants to keep Jared Goff's passing game moving efficiently, especially against a Patriots defense that will be looking to make the Lions earn every yard. For a team trying to stay sharp on a long road trip, these are the kinds of roles that can quietly shape the outcome. [Read more 🡒]