Detroit is in an unfamiliar place this season. The Lions are division champions for the first time in 30 years, and were in a battle for the top seed in the NFC until referee Brad Allen nullified a successful two-point attempt that would have given Detroit a great chance to defeat the Cowboys on Saturday in Arlington. .
A casual viewer might interpret Allen's ruling — which was either a mistake, the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, or a combination of both — as a biased display against the emerging Lions, who maintained they had followed player reporting protocol correctly and had not. When Campbell saw the fruits of their process, he disagreed with this idea and opposed even considering such thinking.
“Don't buy into it. Don't live in this world, man,” Campbell said. “This will drag you down. If it makes you feel better, the NFL is against every team, okay? Because I was in New Orleans, so, I know what that feels like. But you know what that feels like?” “We moved away. Even in that game, we had chances to win before everything happened, but that moment ended it. “That was it, man.”
“We walked away, packed our bags and left. This time, we tried what it was, but we still had a chance. We haven't even started the tournament (qualifiers). So, I think it's a blessing. I would say to the fans: 'Don't do it.' Don’t even believe it.’ We’re just getting started.”
For the first time ever, Detroit will host a playoff game at Ford Field in just two weeks. Before the Lions get to that point, they will have one rematch with a division rival at home to conclude the season.
That's the focus now; Not an official ruling, not a perceived bias, but just beating Minnesota to complete the season sweep. He knows his players are in the same frame of mind.
“Honestly, I feel good about it. Because for the most part, until you guys asked me questions, I'm over it,” Campbell said. “I don't even want to deal with it. … I'm done. I'm fine. I just want to go and get ready for Minnesota. Our players will be ready to go, and I know they will.”
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