Lions' Campbell on Commanders in Divisional playoff, Jayden Daniels: He's dangerous

FOX 2 - After a well-deserved week off with the NFC No. 1 seed bye, it's go-time for the Lions in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

The opponent is the Washington Commanders, fresh off defeating the Buccaneers in the Wildcard Round last night. The Lions host Washington at 8 p.m. Saturday night at Ford Field on FOX 2. 

"We're in the middle of the (playoff) circus right now, and it's time for us to perform," Lions Coach Dan Campbell said. "That's how I look at it."

One Game at a Time:

In a season that was described from the start as Super Bowl or bust, Campbell brushed off questions directed at if just getting there this postseason would be enough. He insisted that nobody's looking ahead, quite yet.

"Listen Everything is about this game right now. I've said it before, I've been to the Super Bowl and I've lost it. It stinks," he said. "It's about this week we've got to find a way to win this game, this week. They understand what's at stake."

At the top of the team's to-do list - scheming a plan to defend against rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels.

"He's dangerous, he poses a major threat. He does not play the position like a rookie quarterback," Campbell said. "He's composed, he's a dangerous runner, he's smart. And then he's got weapons around him.

"He's a difference maker."

The Commanders have undergone one of the bigger turnarounds in the NFL this season, not only thanks to Daniels but veteran first-year Coach Dan Quinn, who Campbell praised, adding that what the team has accomplished is impressive.

The game allows the Lions to see a different opponent - sparing them a rubber match (for now) against a divisional rival like the Vikings.

Related: Campbell talks injuries ahead of Commanders playoff game, Montgomery return

"I think there's a level of excitement," Campbell said. "(If) you see another team you face twice, you know each other, you know them, they know you. Whereas the opponent you haven't faced yet like that's that's exciting too, because you don't really entirely know them. They don't entirely know you. And so now you kind of start from scratch."

Big picture view:

Campbell was asked about the Lions traditionally struggling against running quarterbacks. 

Two recent examples included the Bills beating the Lions 48-42 with Josh Allen getting 68 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while in 2023 the Ravens won head-to-head 38-6, although Lamar Jackson only had 36 yards and one score (with him doing most of the damage passing).

"I know this - running quarterbacks are hard. They're hard to defend," Campbell said. "It's like, somebody tells you that, 'We don't we don't handle running quarterbacks very well." Tell me the team that does. When you're trying to deal with Lamar and a guy like this (Daniels) and Josh Allen. It's a lot of teams that struggle against those guys. They're not easy to stop. And there's a reason for that."

Campbell praised defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, adding he will have a plan and that the team will execute it. He also was quick to add, one or two big runs doesn't mean the end of the world, either. 

"He may make a run. He may pop a runner to, you know, that's just the nature of the game," Campbell said. "But that that doesn't mean that you win the game."

What's next:

Campbell says the focus is all about this week - finding a way to win while the team knows what's at stake

One advantage to having the bye, was watching the other teams and learning from them.

The coach spoke about the narrow margin for error in the playoffs - and how small mistakes are magnified.

"I showed the team a snapshot of what happened (every game). You look at what could have cost the team. whether it's a drop here, whether its a penalty, a situation, whatever it is," he said. "That's what the playoffs are. That one extra play, just doing your job in the heat of the moment. 

"If you do that, you give yourself the best odds. If you don't the other team is going."

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 12: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on January 12, 2025 in Tampa, Florida

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