Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Tomlin defended Dan Campbell's decision to roll the dice late in the Detroit Lions' eventual 20-17 walk-off win over the Green Bay Packers (4-3).
The Lions improved to 4-2, but Campbell's decision to keep the offense on the field on a 4th-and-1 snap from the Lions' own 24-yard line was a topic of conversation during and after Detroit's win. With just under five minutes left to play and with the game tied at 17, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was stuffed on the fourth-down snap and dropped for a 2-yard loss.
That set the Packers up at the Lions' 22-yard line. Detroit's defense would respond, forcing a 35-yard Trey Smack field goal try that was blocked by Lions EDGE DJ Wonnum and wide right.
Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs,
and the Lions' offense would then embark upon a game-sealing, 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive.
Though Campbell's decision was critiqued by others, Tomlin explained why he understood and liked the decision by Campbell and the Lions even before the Packers failed to capitalize on Detroit's turnover on downs.
Mike Tomlin defends Dan Campbell's late fourth-down gamble in the Lions' eventual win over the Packers: pic.twitter.com/HPaKMM1kez
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"It centers around elite quarterback play. When you've got elite quarterback play, and particularly when you're playing elite quarterback play, you want to make sure your guy at least has the chance to have the ball at the end of the game. And that's what that decision appeared to be about for me.
"If (Campbell) punts that ball, the way Jordan Love and Co. has been operating, it's not possible, it's probable that they're going to matriculate the ball down the field and win the game. And so what he did by going for it, he was either going to be successful and keep the ball for his quarterback, or he was at least going to give his quarterback an opportunity to answer. I was always ready to make that decision when I had Big Ben for example and I was facing another elite quarterback," Tomlin said.
Campbell's postgame explanation for the fourth-down gamble sounded like it was rooted in what Tomlin described.
"Well, I thought we would get it No. 1. I really believed we would get that. No. 2, I knew we would get the ball back if it didn't work out, and those were the two thoughts," Campbell said.
The decision worked out for Campbell and the Lions.
Now, Detroit readies for a matchup against the NFL's lone remaining unbeaten team next week. The Lions host the Minnesota Vikings (6-0) at Ford Field on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Mike Tomlin defends Dan Campbell's 4th-down decision in Lions' win over Packers
