Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to a referee regarding a play against Green Bay Packers during the second half at
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to a referee regarding a play against Green Bay Packers during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers, 20-17, in Week 7. The Lions kicked a field goal as time expired after the Packers missed a 35-yard field goal on the previous possession. This was all set up by Dan Campbell’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-one from his own 24-yard line with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Despite the fact that this all worked out for the Lions, people are still questioning Campbell’s decision days later. Tuesday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up,” former Indianapolis Colts coach Jeff Saturday said that he “hated” Campbell’s decision and tried to make the case that they just should have punted?
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Jeff Saturday rips Dan Campbell after win
"I hated it." @Saturdayjeff explains why he didn’t like Dan Campbell’s decision to go for it on fourth down at his own 24-yard line 🏈 https://t.co/GkaloHeLB0
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) October 27, 2026
Saturday made the case that the Lions got lucky and Campbell should have trusted his defense. “At least make them go earn the field goal. And I get the whole time thing, but at the end of the day you are… they should have scored a touchdown. And they got fortunate they didn’t score a touchdown and now it’s gonna look like a great call.”
There are pointless debates and then there’s this. The Lions won. Campbell made the decision to try and win the game with his offense, which is what every single coach with a decent offense would want to do. By going for it there he ensured there would be enough time for his offense to tie or win the game, no matter what the Packers did.
And the analytics said Campbell made the right decision. The fact that he was using his football guy brain and gut to make the decision without knowing the numbers backed him up should only reinforce the belief that he did the right thing.
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Numbers don’t lie and neither does Dan Campbell
Dan Campbell was "shocked" to learn analytics models supported his fourth down call – but he said analytics weren’t a factor. "I believed we were gonna get that. I know what you’re conceding, but I also know, without any doubt, any question, we are getting the ball back with plenty of time to answer," he said Monday.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 26, 2026
No matter how good a defense is, there’s a sense of helplessness when the opposition has the ball last. They’re the team getting the final say. They’re in position to win it. In a tie game a defense can really only be in a position to not lose.
When you throw in the fact that the Lions won the game, it seems really weird to hate the call two days later. It feels like the debate was lost as soon as the Lions won.