Week 14 Gameday Chat: Is this the Detroit Lions' moment?
The Week 14 Gameday Chat is LIVE. Can the (favored!) 5-7 Lions knock off the 10-2 Vikings and mount a run to the playoffs? This is the biggest game of Dan Campbell's coaching career.
The betting line is not outlandish. These Detroit Lions are 5-7 but these Lions are also playing as well as they ever have under Dan Campbell.
Now, they’re due for a signature win.
Knocking off the 10-2 Minnesota Vikings certainly would qualify.
Way back in September — when Go Long spent a week with the Lions’ O-Line — this is the sort of moment players described as a potential breakthrough, a chance to leave that old Lions stench behind. Through all of the excruciating last-second losses, Campbell’s crew keeps showing up to work. There’s next-level buy-in here… but, at some point, the Lions must win. All of the sweat and tears need to be for something. Remember what tackle Penei Sewell told us…
“I’m not only playing for myself out there. I love to play with a purpose. And my purpose is those guys in that locker room. I’d die on the field for my teammates. I’d honestly do that. I honestly say that. Because they mean so much to me. Those boys and the work we put in together day-in and day-out? It’s something you can’t replicate anywhere else to be honest. You’re coming into the building at 7:30 and leaving at 8 p.m. That man is putting in the same work you have while feeling absolutely shitty. Mentally and physically.”
Die? What? Really? This was quite a statement.
“I’d die on that field with them.”
If the Lions, two-point favorites, take down the Vikings, they’d be 6-7 with the remaining schedule: at Jets, at Panthers, vs. Bears, at Packers. Going 10-7 or 9-8 is realistic.
We’ll have an in-depth look at Campbell’s roots here at GoLongTD.com. Our “McGinn Files” series will kick off soon. What’s your take on Campbell’s style? Let us know in the gameday chat — live now. Our chat feature is available for iPhone and Android. Download the Substack app right here if you’d like to join:
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Miss anything at Go Long this week? Catch up right here. Thanks, everyone!
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Lions are going to make it. Enjoy Week 14 everyone