Lions coach Dan Campbell gave credit to the New York Jets in his locker room speech for leaving it all out on the field in their 31-24 loss to Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Ford Field.
"That’s just what the doctor ordered, man," Campbell started. "Listen, get those guys their flowers. They played hard, man. That’s the best game they played up to date this season, all right. They gave us what they had."
His first shoutout went out to special teams: "That’s a way to [expletive] go. You talk about [expletive] field position, al right?"
And offense: "[You] just kept answering, man. We figured some things out and you just kept answering, man. Answering the bell."
And defense: "… That’s a way to come
to life, man. I thought we did some really good things. I’m telling you what, you guys in the back end, much, much improved, much improved. That’s the way to finish it, defense, 'cause that’s what it was gonna be. You were going to have to finish it. And you finished it."
Three game balls went to Jahmyr Gibbs, Jacob Saylors and safety Chuck Clark.
Gibbs had 20 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns, plus seven catches for 65 yards and another score. Gibbs passed Billy Sims for the second-most rushing TDs in Lions history.
"I asked what happened," Campbell said. "I thought it was 100 [yards], but OK."
Saylors had two kickoff returns for 81 yards.
Final ball went to Clark.
"There were a lot of good performances on defense, there really was, but how can you [expletive] not give it Chuck Clark for that one?," Campbell said.
Clark, who closed the team huddle, sacked Jets QB Geno Smith, who fumbled in the final minute of the game. Lions linebacker Jack Campbell recovered with 42 seconds left to clinch the victory.
Campbell, as always is looking forward.
“That’s two. Let’s get ready for Carolina,” he said in closing.
The Lions next head to Carolina to play the Panthers at 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Bank of America Stadium on "Sunday Night Football" on NBC.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Watch Dan Campbell's locker room speech after Lions' win over Jets
