Will Campbell Embraces Playoff Learning Curve Ahead of Texans Showdown
Will Campbell’s NFL playoff debut didn’t go off without a hitch - and he’s the first to admit it. The Patriots’ rookie left tackle faced a fierce Chargers front and came away with a few plays he’d like back. But if you think he’s dwelling on the criticism, think again.
“Honestly, I don’t give a [expletive] what anyone says,” Campbell said Wednesday, brushing off the online noise. “It’s easy to type behind a Twitter account that is fake.
I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody. I want to be perfect.”
That pursuit of perfection met a harsh reality against a Chargers defense loaded with talent and experience. Campbell allowed five pressures and a sack - a costly one at that, as it led to a strip sack of rookie quarterback Drake Maye while the Patriots were in scoring position in the third quarter. It was a tough moment, no doubt, but one that comes with the territory when you're protecting the blind side in January football.
“The Chargers, obviously, I didn’t pitch a shutout,” Campbell said. “I had two or three plays that I wish I could have back.
But that’s $300 million in defensive ends and I’ve got a ton of respect for those dudes. It’s going to be like that every week in the playoffs.”
He’s not wrong. The road doesn’t get any easier from here.
Next up: a Texans defense that’s been one of the best in the league all season - and it starts with their edge rushers. Will Anderson, fresh off a 12-sack season, and Danielle Hunter, a proven veteran force, bring relentless pressure off the edge.
That means Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick, will be in the spotlight once again.
“They’re two of the best in the game at what they do. They play extremely hard - high motors,” Campbell said.
“And that’s their entire defense. Their linebackers fly around, DBs fly around.
This is a physical group.”
Campbell sees similarities between the Texans' defensive identity and the mentality instilled by Patriots coach Mike Vrabel - hard-nosed, physical, and fast. And he knows that kind of energy is contagious.
“I think their coach kinda preaches the same thing Vrabes does. It shows on tape the way they play the game on offense and defense. We’ve got to have a good week in practice and be prepared because it’s going to be a challenge.”
While the NFL is a different beast, Campbell isn’t going into this matchup blind. He’s faced Anderson before - back in college when Campbell was an 18-year-old freshman at LSU and Anderson was already making waves at Alabama as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. That experience, though years removed, still resonates.
“My freshman year, I played some really good players. Played him, Jared Verse and Jalen Carter, all when I was 18 years old.
It’s a great experience for a young player,” Campbell said. “I had a feeling one day I would get to see him again.
He’s an extremely talented player. Plays the game really hard.
Ton of respect for him and what he’s been able to do.”
There’s no sugarcoating the stakes. The Patriots are in the divisional round, and every snap matters.
For Campbell, it’s not just about bouncing back - it’s about rising to the moment. He’s already shown the mindset of someone who’s built for the long haul.
Now, he’ll get another shot to prove it on the field.