Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell insisted he had no regrets for spurning two field goal opportunities after his team’s agonizing 34-31 defeat to San Francisco in the NFC Championship on Sunday.
The Lions looked poised to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history after surging into a 24-7 half-time lead at the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
But a stunning 49ers second-half comeback — and the Lions’ decision to eschew two kickable field goal opportunities — means that it will be San Francisco heading to next month’s NFL showpiece in Las Vegas.
A devastated Campbell defended his decision to go for two risky fourth down conversions rather than field goals in the second half when the game was in the balance.
On both occasions, the Lions failed to convert and San Francisco took over to score touchdowns.
“I just felt really good about us converting, and getting our momentum back,” Campbell told a postgame press conference.
“They were bleeding the clock out and I just wanted to get the upper hand back. It’s easy, hindsight, and I get it. But I don’t regret those decisions.
“And that’s hard because we didn’t come through, and it didn’t work out. But I don’t regret it.
“I understand the scrutiny I’ll get, and that’s part of the gig man. But it just didn’t work out.”
Campbell admitted he was at a loss to explain Detroit’s startling second-half collapse after a dazzling first-half display where they barely put a foot wrong.
“It’s very uncharacteristic of us,” Campbell said. “We’ve always been able to get our momentum back. Right now I can’t put my finger on what happened.
“That’s not like us. We had plays to be made that we just didn’t make that we normally do. That hasn’t been us the whole year. But it showed up today at the worst time.”
The defeat ended an emotion-fuelled playoff run for Detroit, who along with Cleveland, Jacksonville and Houston have never reached the Super Bowl.
“We had an opportunity and we just couldn’t close it out. It stings,” Campbell said.
“It’s tough. Nobody’s happy. They’re very disappointed. It’s like getting your heart ripped out.”
