ALLEN PARK — Dan Campbell’s tone when speaking to the media on Monday mirrored his postgame address to his players after Sunday’s victory in Chicago: the Bears are behind them, and their sights are set on a Week 17 business trip to face the San Francisco 49ers.
“Another tough matchup. We know what this was last (season) when we went out there and weren’t able to win,” Campbell told reporters. “So this’ll be good. We’re looking forward to this.”
In January, the Lions were two quarters away from their first-ever Super Bowl berth but fell short to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. From the onset of this year’s training camp, players and staff alike shared that the sting of that defeat fueled a fire that has laid the foundation for what would become their franchise-best season.
Because of that lingering disappointment, Campbell said he hasn’t needed to use last season’s loss to the 49ers as motivation for what’s ahead in their second Monday Night Football game of the season.
“Honestly, I don’t think you have to tap into that. I think we know exactly where we’re at, and we also know the team that we’re getting ready to go face,” Campbell said. “I haven’t done a deep dive yet. I know they’ve had injuries, but I also know that this head coach over there is an outstanding coach. They’ve been running their system offensively and defensively for a long time. This defense is a top-notch defense; they always have been. It doesn’t matter where they’re at — they can get after the quarterback, they can get after your O-line.
“They run, they hit, they cause takeaways. And offensively, this scheme and system will find your weaknesses and try to exploit them. They’ll just keep pick, pick, picking at it until they start getting explosives. They’ll lean on the run game and then play pass. So, we have our work cut out for us. This is going to be a tough game. We know what we’re getting ready to walk into, and we know we have to win. We have to win, and it’s onto the next one.”
After picking up a 34-17 victory over the Bears, the Lions improved to 13-2 and maintained their hold on the NFC’s No. 1 seed. With the Minnesota Vikings defeating the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and the Philadelphia Eagles losing to the Washington Commanders, the Lions now have a pathway to lock up the top seed and their second consecutive NFC North crown in Week 17 — provided they defeat the 49ers and the Vikings lose to the Packers next Sunday.
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However, if the Lions and Vikings both win, the division title will come down to the Week 18 matchup in Detroit.
“We’re bringing everything that we have to this game, and we are playing,” Campbell said. “I don’t care what it looks like, where it’s at, or who’s this, who’s that — we’re going out to play and win this game out on the West Coast.”
With so much at stake, “bringing everything we have to this game” includes bringing back every able and productive body possible. Campbell said he expects offensive lineman Graham Glasgow to return to the lineup this week and start at left guard. Glasgow was sidelined against the Bears with a knee injury.
Additionally, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who has missed the last seven games with a neck injury, could return to the active roster this week. Reeves-Maybin’s return would restore one of the Lions’ star special teams players and provide a key piece to their decimated linebacker unit, which is missing Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez.
As the focus shifts to taking down the 49ers, Campbell was asked if he felt players from last season’s NFC title loss had any extra motivation for Monday’s game.
“Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at,” Campbell said. “So, that’s always going to bring its own level of motivation to it. But also, this is where we’re at in the season. We know we need another win, we understand where we’re at in the division and the NFC, so I think it’s all-encompassing. And look, most importantly, it’s the next one. It’s the next one in front of us.”
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