When Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters last week that new acquisition Za’Darius Smith would be given a couple days off before his first practice with the team, given that his old team (the Cleveland Browns) had a bye week, it was a clear indication that Smith might not make his Lions debut in Week 10.
Smith was designated as questionable, therefore he did not play against the Houston Texans. Even though he did not play, Smith’s impact on his first game as a Lion was palpable.
Despite his desire to play against the Texans and his disappointment at being given the week off with that in mind, Smith appreciated the opportunity to relax and praised Campbell’s handling of his predicament.
Dan Campbell makes a bold statement during a radio interview.
On Tuesday morning, Campbell appeared on 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa and Jensen with Heather” as usual. He is understandably focused on his ultimate aim for this season, which is “getting that one seed” and home field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
“Our guys are aware of this. “That was one of the things I mentioned in training camp because you have to work backwards,” Campbell explained. “As I’ve already stated, you can’t keep stating the endgame is the endgame; we all know that. Now, what do you have to do? You must win your division, and you want to be the one. That’s where it goes, and therefore the entire focus is on the division and earning that one seed, because increasing your odds only benefits you.
The decision to sit Smith against the Texans was an obvious one, and Campbell reiterated his focus on the big picture.
“We’ve got 11 games left here and we’re gonna need him for every one of those,” Campbell informed the crowd. “As we move closer to the conclusion, they become more crucial. I just thought it was the proper thing to do, and yes, I am excited to get him started. I believe he will be a terrific addition to our team. I believe he offers a complementary component to us and our defensive line, and I’m thrilled to watch him play for us.”
Sum it up. There are eight regular-season games left. Then two playoff games (assuming the top seed and a first-round bye). Then it’s the Super Bowl. That means 11 more games this season.
The decision to give Smith a week off was motivated by the need for him to be at his peak for what is expected to be a lengthy playoff campaign. That is not a discovery, and Campbell added a twist to it. He anticipates the Lions’ 2024 season will culminate in the Super Bowl, which should come as no surprise.
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