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• Following a disappointing season with no playoff appearance, the Lions matched their record for most victories in a single season at 12 with this particular team. Nevertheless, they currently hold the record for the longest losing streak in road playoff games in NFL history, having lost 12 consecutive games. Their last victory on the road was in the 1957 divisional round against the 49ers.

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  Eric Woodyard is a reporter for ESPN who specializes in coverage of the Detroit Lions. He initially joined ESPN as an NBA reporter covering the Midwest area in September 2019 before transitioning to his current position in April 2021. He is from Flint, Michigan and is a graduate of Western Michigan University. Additionally, he has written or co-written three books titled “Wasted,” “Ethan’s Talent Search,” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story.” He is the proud father of one child, Ethan, and can be followed on Twitter at @E_Woodyard.

Campbell, who played for the New York Giants during the 2000 season, participated in the Super Bowl but did not emerge victorious. Following the recent game, he expressed to his team the challenges of making it far in the playoffs and stressed the importance of utilizing their current momentum for future success.

Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown expressed disappointment in their performance on third downs, stating that they were unable to convert several attempts. He also wished they had succeeded in converting on fourth down plays. Despite continuing to gain yardage, the team faced challenges with turnovers and strong defense from their opponents in the second half. Both teams had one turnover each, making for a tough game.

Jared Goff’s throw to seasoned receiver Josh Reynolds was not caught. According to ESPN Analytics, there was a slightly higher chance of winning the game (90.5%) by going for it rather than attempting a field goal (90.3%).

Dan Campbell left Levi’s Stadium on Sunday evening with his arm around Teddy Bridgewater, feeling emotional after their team’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The objective is to surpass this achievement in the upcoming year.

“Converting them could have changed the game, but we failed to do so, which ultimately contributed to our loss.”

Despite the defeat, the coach of the Detroit Lions in his third year remained optimistic and stated that he had no remorse for two unsuccessful fourth down tries in the second half.

“I am not concerned about our improvement, additions, or draft picks. They are not important in the grand scheme of things. The road ahead will be challenging, especially with the competitiveness of our division. We can no longer fly under the radar. Everyone will be gunning for us, but that’s okay. We must strive to capitalize on every chance we get, and unfortunately, we had a chance that we were unable to seal the deal on, and it hurts.”

“I explained to my colleagues that this could have been our only opportunity. Do I truly believe that? No. But I am aware of the difficulty in reaching this point. It will be even more challenging to return next year compared to this year,” stated Campbell. “That’s the truth. And if we lack the same drive and effort – which is a completely different issue – during the offseason, then our chances of making it back here are slim.”

Goff expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s success and praised their ability to convert during crucial moments in games. He completed 25 out of 41 passes for 273 yards and scored a touchdown. Goff also credited their coach for having faith in the team.

The Lions had a strong start to the game, gaining a 17-point lead in the first half. However, things took a turn in the second half, particularly in the third quarter where they were outscored 17-0, their largest point deficit in a quarter this season. Unfortunately, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs fumbled the ball with 5:15 left in the third quarter, and the Lions also had three dropped passes in the second half.

Campbell is known for being bold when it comes to fourth-down scenarios. According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, the Lions had the highest fourth-down conversion rate in the league this century, going for it 34% of the time during the regular season. Goff fully supports Campbell’s aggressive approach, but acknowledges that it’s crucial for the Lions to successfully convert those attempts.Eric Woodyard, ESPNJan 29, 2024, 12:27 AM ET

The second choice, at the 30-yard line of San Francisco with 7:38 left in the fourth quarter, was equally debated according to ESPN’s analysis. The model slightly favored attempting to advance (39.1% versus 38.8%). Goff’s pass to St. Brown was unsuccessful.

“It’s easy to see in retrospect. I understand that, but I don’t regret those choices, and it’s difficult,” Campbell stated. “It’s tough because we didn’t succeed, and it didn’t come together, but I don’t have any regrets. I know I’ll face criticism – it’s part of the job – but unfortunately, it didn’t pan out.”

Before this playoff stretch, the Lions had not been victorious in a playoff match since the 1991 season. Campbell expressed that the loss on Sunday was comparable to having one’s heart torn out, but acknowledged that the organization’s expectations have been elevated.

Alex Anzalone stated, “Our team’s mindset this year was to maintain our standard, despite external doubts or beliefs. Moving forward, this should continue to be our standard.”