'We Owe Them One': Lions Seeking Better Outcome in Revenge Game
Last season, the Detroit Lions arrived at Bank of America Stadium teetering on the edge of a playoff berth. The team had an opportunity to take control of its own destiny, having, at the time, won three in a row since a Thanksgiving loss and six of seven overall.
The optimism and excitement were greeted with a firm rejection, as the Carolina Panthers ran roughshod over the Lions, in what turned out to be a 37-23 defeat that crushed Detroit's postseason hopes.
The Lions missed the playoffs thanks to a tiebreaker with the Seattle Seahawks. Turning the page to 2023, they're now 3-1 and are hosting Carolina in Week 5. It presents an opportunity for the team to make right the wrong of last season's game.
"I think, honestly, I put that on me. That was not tweaks and defense, we were not ready," Campbell explained. "We were not emotionally ready to go, I think more than anything. We didn't necessarily do anything different than we had going in there. We just got strung out on a couple of things. We got knocked down on a couple of these down blocks that, now, we've opened two gaps and your linebacker's trying to fill two holes. It was a collective, and I felt like it was more of, it didn't feel like we were ready for the fight. When you're in defense and you play some of these hard spots that gets no recognition when you do your job, it's a hard life in there. If you don't handle your job, everybody else gets exposed, too, defensively. I felt like it was more that than anything."
The Panthers rushed for 320 yards in that game. That performance saw two different players rush for over 100 yards, which is one more than the amount of players to cross that threshold against Detroit in the six games since.
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's unit has not allowed a team, nor an individual running back, to surpass the century mark in the season's first four games.
"They came out ready to go. They had a lot of yards run on them, and then they took it serious and we weren't ready to go, which is really on me," Campbell stated. "We know that that's this league, that's what can happen if you're not ready. We know what they're capable of. As it pertains to what you do, 'A.G.'s' doing a hell of a job, the defense has been on fire here, and really, we've played three damn good games defensively and one that isn't up to our standards. But, it also looks a lot worse, because you spot them 14 points on offense. If we take a step back, we're gonna struggle to win."
Defensive lineman Alim McNeill remembers the game vividly, as it left a poor taste in the defense's mouth, given how well the team had been playing prior to it.
"Yeah, that was bad in my opinion. There was a really bad taste in our mouths after that. And then obviously, we remember that coming into this week. But, it was a super bad taste, I'll keep it simple, it was a really bad taste," McNeill commented.
Entering Sunday's game, the team is eager to get its revenge on one of the opponents which contributed to its season ending before the playoffs.
"Of course, big game for us. We owe them one," Derrick Barnes said. "I was just talking to my wife about the last time we played them. A lot of complaining about the field and stuff. So hopefully, it's better."
Barnes played a small role in that game, and remembers feeling helpless on the sidelines. He's earned a starting role since then, and anticipates making a difference in this year's matchup.
"I was still developing as a player. I get it, it's the NFL. If you're not playing at a high level, that just comes with it," Barnes said. "I knew that, and I was working on getting myself back into where I needed to be and where I am now. But, I felt helpless for sure. When I did get into the game, tried to make every opportunity count. ... This year, obviously, is a little different. I just have a bad taste in my mouth about it. We know what they did to us last year. We're preparing to where that doesn't happen. I'm glad I can be a huge part of that."
