Detroit’s Playoff Push Hits a Wall, but Dan Campbell Keeps the Focus Forward
After a gut-wrenching loss in Week 16 that saw the Lions come up just short against the Steelers, head coach Dan Campbell isn’t sugarcoating anything. Detroit had not one, but two potential game-winning touchdowns wiped out on the final drive - both due to offensive pass interference calls.
It was a brutal way to end a comeback bid, but Campbell isn’t leaning on bad luck or officiating. He’s putting the responsibility squarely on his team’s shoulders.
“We weren’t able to close it out. And at the end of the day, that’s on us,” Campbell said postgame.
“We did that. We’re the ones who put ourselves in that position to where we had to try to score on the last play.”
That’s classic Campbell - no excuses, no finger-pointing, just accountability. And with the playoff window narrowing, his message to the locker room is clear: there’s still work to do.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” he added. “It doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting, it doesn’t feel bad.
But we have nobody to blame but ourselves. It’s on us.
And it’s also on us to finish. We’ve got two to go.”
The Lions still have a mathematical shot at the postseason, but the margin for error is razor-thin. And while the loss stings, Campbell is already shifting gears, focused on what lies ahead rather than what slipped away.
Montgomery Embracing the Grind Despite Reduced Role
One of the quieter storylines in Detroit this season has been the evolving role of running back David Montgomery. With rookie Jahmyr Gibbs emerging as a dynamic playmaker, Montgomery’s touches have dipped - but you wouldn’t know it from his demeanor.
“David’s a pro,” Campbell said. “He goes about his business; he handles it.
I know that’s not easy. That’s not easy.
… He’s a damn good back. Every good player wants their chance to help the team win and get some production, so I know it can’t be easy.”
Montgomery has been the ultimate teammate - staying ready, staying engaged, and continuing to contribute when called upon. That kind of professionalism doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it matters in a locker room trying to stay locked in during the season’s most pressure-packed stretch.
Vikings Face Uncertainty at QB After McCarthy Injury
Over in Minnesota, the Vikings are dealing with a tough blow of their own. Rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy exited Sunday’s game with a right hand injury, and while initial x-rays came back negative, his status for next week remains uncertain.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t hide his disappointment - not just because of the injury itself, but because of the momentum McCarthy was building in recent weeks.
“It’s a bummer just because I’m having a blast coaching him,” O’Connell said. “And seeing the growth of a young player getting the opportunity to actually go out there and grow and develop. And I’ve been so proud of the way, really these last few weeks, he’s come back and just really shown some growth.”
The Vikings had hoped to close out the regular season with McCarthy under center for two straight home games. Whether that happens now depends on how the hand responds in the coming days.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill echoed the sentiment, highlighting just how much McCarthy’s development has meant to the team.
“With the strides he’s made the last few weeks, and even months, you hate to see it,” O’Neill said. “The growth and trajectory that he’s been on recently has been fun to play with.
It’s fun to be a part of. And that’s another one of the reasons why you see guys fighting through things to be able to play is because they want to be a part of it and we want to be out with him.
Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.”
The Final Stretch
Both Detroit and Minnesota are staring down the final two games of the regular season with questions to answer and urgency to match. For the Lions, it’s about cleaning up the details and finishing strong - whether the playoffs are in reach or not. For the Vikings, it’s about staying the course and hoping their young QB can get back on the field to continue a promising late-season surge.
In both locker rooms, there’s no shortage of fight. And with two weeks left, there’s still time to make a statement - or at least lay the groundwork for what’s next.