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The Detroit Lions had their 11-game win streak snapped on Sunday in a 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and head coach Dan Campbell is shouldering the blame for a controversial moment.
Campbell told reporters that he regretted his call for an onside kick early in the fourth quarter that Bills returner Mack Hollins took inside the 5-yard line.
“I thought we’d get that ball,” Campbell said before adding that in hindsight, “I wish I hadn’t done it.”
Brad Galli @BradGalli
Dan Campbell addressed going for the onside kick early: “I thought we’d get that ball.”
He said in hindsight, the return made him think: “I wish I hadn’t done it.” pic.twitter.com/0rEMLiNzlM
The Lions were trailing 38-28 when Campbell called the onside kick. Bills quarterback Josh Allen extended the lead with a touchdown pass to Ray Davis on the very next play.
Detroit was able to score touchdowns on its next two possessions, but Buffalo added a field goal and managed to recover an onside kick to end the game and hand the Lions their first loss since Week 2.
The 48 points allowed marks a season-high for Detroit and just the second time the team allowed over 30 points in a game this year. Campbell said he feels that he’s responsible for the loss.
“I didn’t have those guys ready to go. Not like that… that’s on me, man. … We had a number of guys that have played a lot better than that… that tells me that’s (on) me,” Campbell told reporters after the loss, adding that the Lions “couldn’t quite match” the Bills’ intensity.
The loss dropped the Lions’ record to 12-2, which is tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the NFC. If the Minnesota Vikings win their game against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Footballthey will also have a 12-2 record. The Lions and Vikings will meet in Week 18, and that game could end up deciding home-field advantage in the playoffs.
For now, the Lions will try to regroup as they prepare for next Sunday’s game against the Bears.
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