DETROIT -- Generally, videos of Dan Campbell’s postgame speeches in the locker room following a Detroit Lions win appear on the team’s social media channels late at night after the game or even the next morning.
But after a decisive 52-21 win over the Chicago Bears in their home opener -- which also marked Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit -- the Lions’ social media team released the video just a few hours later, wasting little time in sharing their first victory of the season.
“There’s nothing like getting your first win of the season, and playing better than we did last week, a lot freaking better,” Campbell said. “I bet we go through the tape, we’re gonna say communication was better, the execution was better, everybody was on point, and we won a lot of one-on-ones. We won a ton of ’em. That’s what the tape’s gonna say.
“There’s a lot to clean up, and we will clean it up.”
The fired-up coach also addressed outside noise and narratives stemming from Detroit’s Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“We believe in us,” Campbell said. “We’re the ones who put in the work. It’s like they forgot that we’re (expletive) fighters… that’s win number one.”
From there, Campbell handed out three game balls -- two to players and one to a special guest.
The first went to safety Brian Branch, who finished with six total tackles, two for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.
“It was a great dub,” Branch said to a room that burst into laughter. “Nah, for real though. We can’t get too excited. We got Baltimore next week. Love y’all.”
The next ball went to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who recorded nine catches for 115 yards and the first three-touchdown game of his career.
“Appreciate you guys. Shoutout Jared Goff. Five (expletive) touchdowns. Let’s go,” St. Brown said.
The final game ball went to former Lions principal owner Martha Ford, who will turn 100 years old on Tuesday.
“I’m so proud of you all. And I’m so thankful for this,” Ford told the locker room. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with each game, and I see the results. And I think we’ve got a great leader.”
Quarterback Jared Goff closed the clip by breaking the team down and commending their effort.
“Aye, way to respond. Proud of every one of you guys,” Goff said. “Way to (expletive) respond, feed off each other. Great (expletive) job.”
With the win, the Lions improved to 1-1 on the season and in the NFC North -- a much-needed victory as they chase a third straight division title.
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