Dan Campbell intentionally disrespects Anthony Richardson and the Colts’ offense

Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions’ head coach, sparked controversy with his comments following the team’s 24-6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Campbell told the 97.1 The Ticket team on Tuesday that he was relieved that the Colts chose to take the ball after winning the coin toss, allowing the Lions’ defense to get to the field first. However, Campbell accidentally ridiculed the Colts’ offense, which is led by quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“Yeah, it was awesome because we wanted to play defense,” Campbell said as quoted by SI. “I wanted to play defense first, so it was perfect. It depends. What is the look of that week? The opponent? The energy that we want to start with that week, where maybe you feel like you’ve got an advantage or you think you can gain some early momentum or set the tone.”

Campbell’s comments appeared to discount the Colts’ offensive potential, implying that he was more comfortable with the defense’s performance to begin the game. In the end, the Lions defense performed precisely how Campbell had planned. They started strong, suffocating Richardson and the Colts offense and forcing a red-zone stop early in the game.

The Colts failed to score a single touchdown throughout the game, while the Lions’ defense continued to play at an excellent level, securing the victory.

While Campbell’s objective was to emphasize the defensive strategy, his statements unintentionally undermined the Colts’ offensive capabilities. Nonetheless, his belief in the defense paid off, as the Lions are currently 10-1 into their Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears.

Campbell’s emphasis on defense indicates that the Lions are prepared for the Super Bowl, but his remarks regarding the Colts’ offense could serve as bulletin board material for future opponents.