ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions don’t like to lose, a sentiment that extends across the NFL. But the Lions seem to take action to prevent losses from piling up more than any other team in recent memory.
Detroit hasn’t lost consecutive games in the regular season since Week 7 and 8 back in 2022, the longest active streak in the NFL. That’s a 10-0 record since that point in regular-season games following a loss.
The Los Angeles Rams have the second-longest streak in the league, last dropping consecutive regular-season games in Week 4 and 5 in 2024.
After dropping a primetime game on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs last week, the Lions are faced with a possible second consecutive loss if things don’t go their way against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday night.
But coach Dan Campbell knows exactly why the Lions have built up this streak of bounce-back wins and he’ll rely on it to get Detroit a crucial win in Week 7.
“It’s our players,” Campbell said. “We’ve got a good group of guys that are competitive. They’re a resilient group, they know how to overcome adversity, they don’t like losing and they go back to work to fix the things that need to be fixed.”
Following last week’s loss, Campbell pondered whether the defeat was something the Lions needed, that getting “kicked around a little bit” could create more of a sense of urgency.
The Lions players didn’t feel that in the moment, but with time to digest the loss, it can at least serve as a motivator to keep pushing and working for a chance at redemption the following week.
“Probably just the hunger and the anxiousness to go out and play the game of football,” wide receiver Jameson Williams said. “I feel like everybody loves the game of football. It’s just the expression of feelings everybody goes out there and plays with. Nobody likes losing. You just try not to lose. The name of the game is to get wins...that’s more highly expected coming off a loss.”
Offensive coordinator John Morton was with the Lions in 2022 as an offensive assistant when the franchise last had back-to-back losses and upon his return for this season he sees why the players don’t stay down long.
He doesn’t notice anyone hanging their head after a defeat once they get back to work. They move on and try to correct their mistakes.
“These guys don’t blink. Everyday is the same to them, win or lose," Morton said. “Same attitude. That’s the way these guys have been brought up, and it’s just awesome to see that.”
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown remembers losing 13 games his rookie season in 2021. In his second year, Detroit got off to a 1-6 start that included five straight losses.
Consecutive defeats against the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins that year were the last time the Lions would have that feeling.
“We know what it was like to lose those games. Whatever it was, so many games in a row and then to end up winning those games, we started doing things differently,” St. Brown said. “We know what it looks like now to win and we know what it takes to win games and the preparation during the week. I mean, it’s a lot of stuff, doesn’t just happen on game day.”
The veteran receiver recognizes that losing is part of the game and that it happens to even the best teams. But at this point, the core of the Lions roster that have been through the ups and downs with Campbell understand what needs to be the focus after a loss.
Taking care of the football, executing two minute drills and finishing strong were all at the front of mind for St. Brown about getting right for their return home against the Bucs.
Tampa Bay has won 11 of its last 13 regular-season games, responding to a four-game losing streak last season. The Bucs will be one of the strongest challengers to the Lions’ run of form, but they can make a major statement by getting a win and keeping their three-year streak alive.
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