The Detroit Lions haven't been one of the NFL's elite teams for going on two years now, and Dan Campbell is determined to get them back to that perch.
Campbell said multiple times in his weekly radio interview Tuesday, Oct. 6, on 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) the Lions are "not going to accept mediocrity" as they try to claw their way back from a disappointing 2-2 start.
"Our discipline is not good enough across the board, and we're playing very average football right now," Campbell said. "And that's everywhere. That's everywhere. That's not just defense. We got to pick up the slack on offense and special teams right now. That'll alleviate a lot of our defensive issues, so it's certainly going to help. And that's what I'm tasked with, man. I'm about
freaking solving problems, and I'm going after this thing, man. We're not going to be mediocre. I don't accept that."
The Lions have gone just 11-10 since they were knocked out of the divisional round of the playoffs after a 15-win regular season in 2024.
They missed the postseason and finished last in a competitive NFC North last year and have gone 4-6 since last Thanksgiving.
The Lions have the NFL's worst defense this season with numbers that are on par with their winless season of 2008. Through four games, they rank last in the NFL in total defense (423.8 ypg) and 31st in points allowed (31.8 ppg). In 2008, they gave up 32.3 points and 404.4 yards per game.
Campbell said the one thing he wants to see from his defense more than anything against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend is for "our guys to be where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be there."
Asked if it's a surprise that's still an issue entering Week 5, he said, "Yeah, I would like to believe that we would have cleaned some of this stuff up, but I also know it’s a work in progress and you continue to coach it up and we’ll make a tweak on some of this personnel a little bit. We’re going to give some other guys an opportunity and go, man. But we’re not going to accept mediocrity. That’s not what we’re doing here. So we got too many guys playing at a high level and we’re going to raise the floor on this team."
Campbell mentioned not accepting mediocrity a third time when asked if his team's defensive struggles put too much pressure on the offense to score points and win games.
The Lions currently rank fifth in the NFL in scoring (29.8 ppg), but are 15th in rushing EPA (minus-.08) according to SumerSports.
"Man, if you want to be great, they should want to score 35 points a game at a minimum," he said. "That's what greatness is. That's what they're charged with. We got plenty of weapons on offense and if we're going to accept mediocrity, then, no. Then, yeah, we can make all the excuses in the world. But if we want to spit and sputter and be average, that’s one thing. We’re not going to be average. We’re going to raise the raise the floor on these guys, man. We're going to push them."
[ NEW SHOW: Listen to the "Freep Sports Show" on our Detroit Free Press livestream on YouTube and available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple or Spotify). ]
Cade Mays to start practice
Campbell said center Cade Mays is expected to join Brian Branch back on the practice field this week as both players return from injuries. The Lions placed Mays on injured reserve at the August roster cut deadline after he broke his wrist in training camp, while Branch has been out since last December with a torn Achilles.
"He doing great," Campbell said. "He and Branch are on the same plan right now, so, the plan is to get them worked into practice. We're waiting on the final call from the doctor on both to say, yes, they can practice. We'd love to get them going this week. Doesn't mean they're going to play."
After playing the Cardinals this week, the Lions have a bye Oct. 18 then play back-to-back division home games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions' Dan Campbell fired up on radio: 'Not going to accept mediocrity'
