Dan Campbell Has a Message for New England Before Munich — And He Didn’t Hold Back
If you wanted a quiet week before Germany, Dan Campbell isn’t your guy.
Tuesday morning on 97.1 The Ticket, Campbell was asked about the trade deadline, the NFC North, all of it.
He had one thing on his mind: New England.
“Oh yeah, we’re going to get ready to go. We’re going to have our best game plan in all three phases and we’re going to be ready to get after New England’s ass. I cannot wait.”
That’s not a coach trying to be polite. That’s a coach who has been waiting for this game.
And you can understand why.
Detroit is 6-2. They’ve won four straight. Their defense is playing its best football of the season — holding opponents to 21 points or fewer in four straight games for the first time since 2016.
Sunday in Miami, they held the Dolphins out of the end zone entirely. 182 total yards. 77 rushing yards. Three sacks. Chuck Clark with a pick that set up a field goal.
Now they go to Munich.
New England is coming the other way. The Patriots just got embarrassed at home, 45-27 by Green Bay. Drake Maye threw three interceptions. Four turnovers, zero forced. 45 points allowed — the most in a home game for New England since 1970.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday the issue was preparation. He has to fix it fast, because now they have to fly to Germany too.
Campbell knows all that. On Monday he was more respectful: “New England’s a good team, and had some turnovers that hurt them. And that’s really what’s on my mind. The team with the most energy has got a good chance of winning this game.”
On Tuesday, the filter came off.
This is the Dan Campbell Lions fans love. No coach-speak. No “we’re just focused on us.” Just: we’re coming, we’re ready, and we cannot wait.
He even joked about what he’s packing for Germany: “I’m bringing an extra pair of underwear and socks, and that’s it.”
The Lions will practice Wednesday and Thursday in Allen Park, then fly to Munich with about 48 hours to adjust before kickoff Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET at FC Bayern Munich Arena.
Campbell downplayed the travel angle: “They got to go through the same thing.”
There’s also real news tucked into that same radio interview. Kerby Joseph will NOT play in Germany. He remains on PUP with a cartilage issue in his knee. He returned to practice Oct. 28, and the Lions have until next week to activate him or keep him on PUP for the year. That’s part of why Detroit traded for Andre Cisco on Monday.
And on Christian Mahogany, Campbell revealed the benching wasn’t a one-time thing. Mahogany has broken team rules multiple times this year. “If it’s broken multiple times, then you do something about it… We’re on good standing and like I said, the ball’s in his court.”
But the headline from Tuesday is the warning.
Detroit isn’t going to Germany for a vacation. They’re going to go get after New England.
The NFC North is the only division in the NFL with all four teams above .500. Chicago (7-2) just added Jeffrey Simmons. Minnesota (6-2) is hunting for QB help. Green Bay (6-3) is getting Micah Parsons back soon.
Detroit can’t afford to sleepwalk through Munich. Campbell knows it.
“We’re going to have our best game plan in all three phases.”
Sunday morning, Germany gets to see what that looks like.
