Lions' Campbell: If we play our 'B game I think we win against Commanders

FOX 2 - Less than two full days after the Lions implosion against the Washington Commanders, Coach Dan Campbell is still pulling no punches.

On Saturday the Lions fell victim 45-31 to the biggest upset of the playoffs and in recent NFL history to the No. 6 seed, marring arguably the greatest regular season in franchise history.

"It was tough, a tough pill to swallow. when you have goals and standards for yourself. we failed," he said. "Credit Washington they did what they needed to do.I feel like you know if we bring our A game - if we bring our B game, I think we win that game - and we didn't bring that.

"I know everybody is frustrated, I know the fans are and certainly our team and everyone in the organization."

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Campbell said although he was proud of what the team overcame, the loss falls on everybody. He said everyone had a hand on the defeat and that they earned it together.

He added he's already gotten through the initial grieving process, however.

"Man, you brush yourself off. I've already gone through the loss of a family member-feeling, to anger yesterday, to now I'm back on my feet, ready to roll," Campbell said. "I can look in the mirror and say, you know what? You failed, man. What are you going to do about it?"

The Lions battled numerous injuries, mainly on the defensive unit, but the short-handed challenges were magnified by five turnovers.

Quarterback Jared Goff had four interceptions and one lost fumble. His first interception led to direct points on a Quan Martin 40-yard interception return for a Washington touchdown.

Campbell said in many of the instances, it wasn't just one thing that broke down on the play. The lost fumble by Goff with the Lions leading 7-3 seemed to set the tone, he said.

"We have the chance to go up 14 to 3 potentially. And we fumble that ball, they go all the way down. It just kind of it begins to change," he said. "Goff had you know, the four interceptions. But there's also there's a number of things that took place on two of  those that are there's more than him (that broke down on the play).

"We were just a little off, and usually we're able to overcome that."

With the Lions' having one of the most talented and young rosters in the league, Campbell said the team is ready to pick up where it left off.

As the NFL Playoffs roll onto the Super Bowl, the Lions are left pondering the off-season which could involve losing both coordinators. Free agents, followed by the draft then come next.

"We've got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success. And those guys are made the right way," he said. "So absolutely, our (championship) window is open to one."

Campbell said he expects to loss both coordinators in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. 

"I will  forever be grateful for those guys and our team, but yet man, we move forward," he said. "I'll find the next best guys for  us. As far as we want it to be seamless, that transition if it happens."