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It did not equate into a victory in Atlanta, but the Detroit Lions offense once again showed more vitality and cohesion in the Week 16 loss than it had earlier in the season. It’s a continuation of the theme for Detroit’s offense, which has played markedly better since head coach Dan Campbell took over the playcalling and more input on the scheme from offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn.
On Sunday, despite starting backup QB Tim Boyle and missing top weapons T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift, the Lions offense outperformed the Falcons in every category except the red zone. That’s not a coincidence with Campbell calling the shots.
The rookie head coach is feeling more confident and positive about how he’s handling the in-game play calls and decisions. It was a focus of Campbell’s postgame press conference.
“Definitely, I feel like every week I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable,” Campbell stated. “And there’s a number of challenges that you go through as a head coach and a play-caller together that you get over. Even that little wrinkle today where you lose a couple of guys, you’re out of these personnel groups, to have to adjust and adapt and do it on the run. Man, you memory-bank all this you learn and grow from it. I do, I feel like I’m getting get a lot more comfortable.”
Don’t expect any change in the final two weeks. As for the long-term, it’s still up in the air. But Campbell made it clear Lynn won’t be retaking the role.
“Look, I’m not even worried about that right now. But we’ll cover that whenever the time (comes) — I just know I’m finishing the season as the OC.”
That certainly doesn’t bode well for Lynn’s future with the team. Based on how the offense has perked up under Campbell’s control despite myriad injuries, that’s not a bad thing either.