'Man, what a great job': Dan Campbell praises Detroit Lions after NFC North Championship win
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Following the Detroit Lions' second NFC North Championship win in a row, head coach Dan Campbell praised how his team handled a good team, the Minnesota Vikings.
"We knew what was at stake, and our guys, they came out and played," Campbell said after his team secured the No. 1 seed.
Speaking Sunday night in Detroit, Campbell first celebrated the defense, saying that they controlled a good part of the game.
"The guys on defense I thought executed exactly the way that we had worked and what we had talked about. We were able to apply a lot of pressure, and it just paid dividends," he said. "That's a good team over there, they're well-coached. Kevin O'Connell does a great job, ton of weapons, and we were able to contain them and keep them at bay until our offense was able to find our rhythm."
He went on to talk about how the entire team came together to defeat the Vikings 31-9 at Ford Field.
Lions earn NFC's top seed in victory over the Vikings
The Lions and Vikings could meet again in two weeks.
"Just a total team effort - started with our defense and took the whole unit. Man, what a great job," he said. "Everybody did their part to a T."
He also discussed how the defense was prepared to hold back Minnesota for as long as needed.
"If things didn't go right, our defense was fully ready to take the field and do what they needed to do. That was the mindset," he said. "You don't walk onto the field; you sprint on the field, and you got to get a stop."
Campbell said Sunday's win and what his team accomplished has been in the making for a while.
"I think you kind of had to go through what we've been through over the last four years, the core of this unit. And then anybody that comes in, they fall in line because that's what we're built around is our core, and they really delivered for us today," he said. "It's a special group."
Campbell also used the post-game press conference to praise linebacker Alex Anzalone, who had just returned after suffering a broken arm. Anzalone was one of three players who received a game ball Sunday night.
"I thought it was going to take him a minute to work himself back in, and it didn't take long at all, and he was back to what he was before he got injured," Campbell said.
What's next?
Vikings: Visit the Rams as the NFL’s first 14-win wild card.
Lions: Host a divisional-round game after their first bye since Week 5.