Dan Campbell’s team converted a risky fourth down to win the Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night.
Bill Belichick’s name in 2024 isn’t what it was in 2014. However, those who watched football back then remember seemingly every other topic being about the New England Patriots. Nick Saban, meanwhile, worked in parallel in College football.
Seemingly every other year or better, Saban’s unit was one of the last two teams in the entire college football league. His success prompted analysts to wonder whether Saban would ever go all-in on an NFL team for a second time after failing with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and 2006.
As it stands, the former Alabama head coach chose to join the media instead so he could comment on other head coaches.
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Saban on Campbell
Speaking on a December 6 edition of “The Pat McAfee Show” former Alabama head coach Nick Saban commented on the Lions head coach’s decision to believe in his players even after one leaked part of the playbook late in the game against the Packers.
He said: “I always thought if we had one yard or less and I believed in our players and I think Dan Campbell has shown that he believes in his players, that they’re going to get half a yard, yard, whatever, in that situation.
“And I do agree with the analysis that if they kick a field goal with 43 seconds left, that Green Bay goes down the field and maybe they kick a field goal and score a touchdown.
“So you give them an opportunity to win the game.
I always felt like if you can win the game on offense, do it.
“If you can win the game on offense third and five and you’ve got to throw it at the end of the game to make a first down to keep the ball so the other team doesn’t get it back, yep.
“Because most of the games that I played conservatively in when I first became a head coach, we always lost,” he added.
Dan Campbell’s gutsy decision
Campbell was down to fourth and one on his side of the field when up just a field goal against the Packers. Instead of punting as most coaches would do in that situation, he elected to go for it, winning the game.
While many analysts have taken the time to congratulate the head coach on the result, one can only wonder how many would have backed him had he not converted the first down. Either way, the Lions are one win richer and the Packers are one win poorer as a result.