👀 RUN THE FOOTBALL 👀 What's the problem Dan Campbell?! - Stephen A. & Shannon DEBATE 🗣️ | First Take

Summary

The video features a debate between Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe over whether Lions coach Dan Campbell deserves blame for Detroit's playoff loss to San Francisco. While Sharpe absolves Campbell, citing key drops and fumbles by Detroit players, Smith places some blame on Campbell for abandoning the run in the second half after it dominated in the first half. Ultimately, Smith argues Campbell needed to adjust his aggressive approach to protect a big lead while Sharpe counters the analytics supported Campbell's decisions.

Takeaways

• 😡 Shannon Sharpe disagrees with Stephen A. Smith, puts some blame on Lions coach Dan Campbell for play calling
• 👎 Lions had great success running the ball in 1st half but abandoned it in 2nd half
• 😟 Lions made critical mistakes in 3rd quarter - 2 drops by WR Josh Reynolds and a fumble by RB Jamaal Williams
• 😐 Stephen A. doesn't blame Dan Campbell's 4th down decisions, says players need to execute
• 🤔 Shannon Sharpe says Dan Campbell needed to adjust strategy with big lead, should have kicked FGs
• 😕 49ers took advantage of Lions mistakes to mount big comeback, score 27 unanswered points
• 🧐 Momentum shifted in 3rd quarter due to Lions errors, not Dan Campbell's aggression
• 👍 Stephen A. commends Campbell for coaching to Lions' identity all season
• 😟 Drops by Josh Reynolds on two key 4th down plays hurt Lions late
• 😠 Lions collapse was disastrous after dominating early, but coaching decisions not solely to blame

Q & A

What was the score when the Lions were leading the 49ers in the game?

The Lions had a 14-0 lead early in the game. They later extended it to 24-7 by halftime.

What happened during the third quarter that allowed the 49ers to get back in the game?

The Lions had two key drops by Josh Reynolds and a fumble by Jamaal Williams in the third quarter. This allowed the 49ers to score 17 unanswered points and tie the game.

Why does Stephen A. Smith blame Dan Campbell for the loss?

Stephen A. believes Campbell should have continued running the ball in the second half, instead of becoming more pass-heavy after building a lead. He thinks this change in approach allowed the 49ers back in the game.

What is Shannon Sharpe's main rebuttal to Stephen A. Smith's criticism of Dan Campbell?

Sharpe argues that the Lions' collapse was mainly due to execution errors like dropped passes and fumbles, not Campbell's coaching decisions. He says you can't blame the coach for players making mistakes.

How does Stephen A. counter Shannon Sharpe's defense of Dan Campbell?

Stephen A. agrees that execution errors hurt the Lions, but still maintains that Campbell should have stuck with the dominant run game that was working in the first half, instead of passing more after building a lead.

What football strategy does Shannon Sharpe say the Chiefs used to protect their lead versus the Ravens?

Sharpe notes that despite normally being an aggressive passing team, the Chiefs took a more conservative approach in the second half, running the ball to protect their lead versus the Ravens.

What is the main philosophical difference between Stephen A. and Shannon Sharpe regarding coaching decisions in this game?

Stephen A. believes Campbell needed to adjust his normal aggressive approach to protect the lead, while Sharpe thinks it's wrong to abandon your team's proven identity in a big game.

What statistics does Shannon Sharpe cite to defend Dan Campbell's fourth down decisions?

Sharpe notes the Lions' 90.5% win probability going for it on fourth down versus 90.3% if kicking field goals, arguing the small difference didn't justify changing approach.

Why does Stephen A. Smith think the first half success running the ball is relevant to second half decisions?

Stephen A. argues that since the Lions dominated the 49ers in the run game early on, they should have kept running the ball in the second half to protect the lead.

Who does Shannon Sharpe believe is most responsible for the Lions' collapse in the third quarter?

Sharpe blames the collapse mainly on Lions players making uncharacteristic mistakes like drops and fumbles, not Dan Campbell's coaching.

Outlines

00:00

😠 Shannon vs Stephen A debate Lions collapse against 49ers in NFL playoffs.

Shannon and Stephen A debate who is to blame for the Lions' collapse against the 49ers after leading 17-0 in the NFL playoffs. Shannon absolves coach Dan Campbell, blaming the collapse on drops and fumbles by the players in the 3rd quarter. Stephen A disagrees, arguing Campbell should have continued running the ball like in the 1st half rather than get away from it.

05:02

😡 Stephen A says Dan Campbell should have adjusted strategy to protect lead.

Stephen A argues that despite his aggressive style, Dan Campbell should have adjusted his strategy in the 2nd half to protect the Lions' 17-point lead. He believes Campbell should have taken field goals, kept running the ball, and avoided risky 4th down attempts. Shannon disagrees, saying Campbell can't abandon his identity, though agrees adjustments are sometimes needed.

Keywords

💡collapse

The word "collapse" is used several times to refer to the dramatic turn of events where the Detroit Lions blew a 14 point lead and lost the game. This collapse, happening in the 3rd quarter, is described as "disastrous" and a key aspect that led to their defeat.

💡dominated

The script mentions how in the 1st half, the Detroit Lions dominated the San Francisco 49ers, especially in their rushing game. They gained 148 yards on 21 carries and scored 3 touchdowns, essentially bullying the 49ers defense.

💡momentum

Momentum is mentioned as a key factor that shifted in the 3rd quarter to allow the 49ers to stage a comeback. The Lions made mistakes, failed to execute, and essentially choked, allowing the 49ers to seize momentum.

💡third quarter

The entire discussion centers around the key turning point in the 3rd quarter where the Lions collapse occurred. Numerous examples are provided of mistakes made by the Lions offense in this quarter that stopped their domination.

💡run game

The Lions' strong rushing attack or run game is cited as the main reason they dominated initially. In the 2nd half, they inexplicably ran the ball only 8 times after 21 rushes in the 1st half, which is criticized.

💡choke

The idea of the Lions choking in the 3rd quarter comes up repeatedly. Their mistakes, lack of execution, and failure to sustain their high level of play from the 1st half are all described as choking.

💡drops

Josh Reynolds, Lions receiver, had two key drops in the 3rd quarter that killed drives and momentum. These drops are singled out as plays that hurt the Lions significantly.

💡turnover

The Lions had zero turnovers leading up to their playoff game, but running back Craig Reynolds then fumbled in the 3rd quarter leading to a 49ers touchdown. This lone turnover is mentioned as costly.

💡kicking

Whether Lions coach Dan Campbell should have kicked field goals instead of going for it on 4th down multiple times is debated. This key coaching decision is discussed regarding its impact.

💡momentum

Momentum is mentioned as a key factor that shifted in the 3rd quarter to allow the 49ers to stage a comeback. The Lions made mistakes, failed to execute, and essentially choked, allowing the 49ers to seize momentum.

Highlights

Detroit was dominating this game in any facet that they wanted to

This game really comes down to the third quarter, they got they choked in the third

Dan Campbell not kicking field goals doesn't lead to those two drops or the fumble

This is not on Dan Campbell whether to kick field goals or not

I can't absolve him from some blame for not continuing to run the football

You got to find a way to stop that bleeding

This was not your shining moment as a coach

In the playoff game I would tell the guys don't you be the one that costs us

It's okay to coach one way in one game and different in another

You had dominated the 49ers defensive line in the first half

If they kick field goals and lose we would be killing Dan Campbell today

Josh Reynolds has to catch either of those balls for them to likely win

They won multiple games because of the aggressive way they played

In a championship game you have to change your thinking

You were running roughshot all over San Francisco in the first half

Transcripts

you know how badly you would have liked

to see them win and get there how much

of this collapse are you putting on Dan

Campbell in the coaching yeah very

little this let's be clear though this

is a disastrous collapse for Detroit to

be up 14 nothing to be up 247 and to

lose in that way disaster I put very

little on Dan Campbell everyone's

talking about kicking field goals and

whatnot let's put into context one this

is not analytics driven only this is who

we are Detroit who we're playing against

San Franc Isco Detroit was dominating

this game in any facet that they wanted

to throughout this game they were

running the ball in the perimeter that

we talked about Jared G was delivering

the ball Gibbs was being spectacular

with the ball in his hands the fourth

and two so third down happens Fred

Warner makes a great play fourth and two

they go for it and this game really

comes down to the third quarter they got

they choked in the third third quarter

Detroit choked in the third quarter

fourth and two they throw the ball to

Josh Reynolds he drops it then we come

back and then there's going to be a a

drop on third down by Josh Reynolds in

the third quarter and then there's the

fumble by Gibbs in the third quarter all

led to 17 points Dan Campbell not

kicking field goals doesn't lead to

those two drops Dan Campbell not kicking

field goals doesn't lead to that Gibbs

fumble the reality was they've made

their way they were out gained 170 to 42

in the third quarter they they're like

two drops in that third quarter alone

that's the most in a game that they've

had all season long all season season

long Dan Campbell did not do that that's

their first turnover in the playoffs

that Gibbs fumble this is not on Dan

Campbell whether to kick field goals or

not they won four games this year by

deciding to play that style of football

this was in the third quarter they

choked they had done things that they

had not done all season and all playoffs

long credit San Francisco and Brock FY

they took advantage of them but this is

about that third quarter and just

disastrous collapse more so than kicking

field goals or not kicking field goals I

respect I respectfully disagree with you

um I like Dan Campbell a lot I think

he's done a hell of a job um in in

turning this franchise around and making

them formidable I I really am fond of

him as a coach but I can't absolve him

from some blame yesterday like for

example I'm looking at these numbers in

the first half then olowski in terms of

you running the football and I'm saying

to myself what the hell is the problem

21 carries for 148 yards and three

scores in the first half you are running

rough shot over the San Francisco 49ers

you are literally looking like you're

playing Bully ball sh Shannon you're

looking like you're playing Bully ball

you're pushing them around you look more

physical Gibbs and Montgomery coming out

of the back field doing what they want

to do trick play uh the Jameson Williams

He skirts down for the down the middle

of the field for the first score of the

game we watch them to know that you can

run the football we what do we say about

things two things travel and come NFL

playoff time defenses and running games

you got those two going for you chances

are you going to win a game and guess

what the San Francisco 49ers were shook

they were getting pushed around they

were getting pummeled and Detroit had

all the momentum in the world what

possible excuse can you have for running

the football eight times in the second

half for 34 yards why because Gibbs you

know fumbled and and as a result of that

you got nervous why didn't you continue

to just run a football you could have

done that you could have tried that you

should have tried that I'm not going to

blame them so much about P because p is

not known as the most mobile quarterback

in the world you didn't anticipate that

his Mobility would be such a factor as

the game waned I get that and I

understand that when they went for it

the first go round fourth and two or

fourth and three whatever it was I blame

Josh Reynolds for that he dropped the

ball you got to catch that pass gota

catch that pass right but the second go

round when they did it in the third

quarter when they were trying to stop

the momentum and sto the bleeding um the

play just looked a bit discombobulated

people weren't on the same page um I'm

sorry that's not just on the play that

play happens because of Armstead the

play is there they're going to have an

in route to Reynolds huge completion

Armstead becomes Armstead they do a

little Twan stunt inside he gets

unblocked yeah yeah yeah but what I'm

talking about is how Josh Reynolds I

mean obviously you threw him the ball

the ball wasn't near him is what I'm

trying to say it wasn't near him all

right all I'm that's all I'm saying you

can break that down if you want to I'm

not disputing that I'm saying at the end

of the day you're going for it because

you met you've had a you've had a

tendency to go for it on fourth down

you've done it almost more than anybody

else in the league and you've been at a

52% rate major props to you but didn't

work yesterday and all I'm trying to say

to you is that you got to continue to

run that football you got to find a way

to stop that bleeding you got a 24 to7

lead at halftime you do not have an

excuse to lose that game and to get

blitzed in the third quarter the way

that you did I mean Not only was the

game tied the game was tied by the end

of the third quarter Tied by the end of

the third quarter and ultimately you

ended up scoring 27 unanswered points

before you put up something I'm sorry I

got to look at the coach there and I got

to say yo man that this was not your

Shining Moment you're absolutely right

Stephen A I agree with you Stephen A I

disagree with you do Steph Stephen I

remember when I was in Denver and being

one of the leaders every time we left

the locker room during the playoff game

I would always tells the guys don't you

be the one don't you be the one that get

a penalty that cost us don't you be the

one that fmer the football that cost us

coach don't you be the one to try to be

the smartest man that ever play the G

coach the game take those points because

instead of being tied you're still up

three because now if you're up if you

tied cuz see now if you take the points

instead of being down three they scored

that touchdown when you miss it on

fourth down to be down 10 now you're

down three and guess what you go get a

touchdown now all of a sudden you're

tied in that situation do you can't

always what is Andy Reid by Nature he's

an aggressive play calling Coach what's

Patrick Mahomes he's is an aggressive

quarterback but in the third and fourth

quarter with the exception of one play

what did they do they took the air out

of the ball because they say the last

thing that we want to do is give the

Ravens any type of momentum it's okay to

coach one way in one game and then be

some way totally different we saw that

with Atlanta everybody so well that's

what they do they throw the ball you're

up 283 run the effing football Detroit

you had run the you had dominated the

49ers defensive line in the first half

it was second and 12 and you hand the

ball to Gibbs and he go get 13 14 yards

Montgomery up the middle for five you

getting five 8 10 12 14 yards a clip you

imagine Shannon here here's my thing

though Shannon if he kicks field goals

in that situation we don't know if they

would have won or not there's people

believe that they would have I don't

know okay if they kick field goals in

that game and they end up losing that

game we would be killing Dan Campbell

today all of a sudden you switched up

and became somebody that you're not

that's what we're talking about with

Lamar a little bit in the Baltimore game

like you tried to be something that you

weren't all season long that's who

that's who they've been and they've been

great at it they're 20 out of 24 on

Fourth and three or less this year let

me ask you a question how many times did

they have 17-point lead though but

Shannon that's not the that that's not

the way he's thinking about it you in a

championship game Dio you have to change

your way of thinking you can't think

this why you what do because you go home

because you go home and everybody's

calling you calling you Dum chinon they

drops like we we we can't look if if

Josh Reynolds catches either of those

balls they're likely winning the game if

they block Armstead they're likely

winning the game so we're sitting here

killing the coach about it we love the

guy for going for two all the time they

beat the Chargers because they went for

it a bunch of times I think they beat

the bearss cuz they went for it a bunch

of times like they won most multiple

games this year because of the way that

they played and they executed it we

can't sit he's got to catch the ball I

just believe Stephen A in certain

situations you have to change your way

of thinking that's just me and in that

situation that would have been one

because we know how aggressive Andy Reed

is we know what Patrick Mahomes but

sometimes do it's okay to change up and

I get it yes you had kind of lost the

momentum you go for it on third down you

go for it on fourth down you miss it

they kick a field goal you kick the ball

off to you Gibbs fumble now what was a

17-point lead all of a sudden is a

seven-point lead and you gotten the

crowd back in the game the Lions had

done a great job the one thing you want

to do when you go on the road is get the

crowd out of it early they had done that

the same thing Kansas City had done in

Baltimore got the crowd out of the ball

game but it's okay because if you

looking at the analytics you had a 90.5%

chance if you go for it you had a 90.3%

if you kick the field goal there's not a

vast disparity in that I can see if you

got a 90.5% a 90.5 to win and then you

got a 64% if you kick the field goal or

85% 5% is big but when you do it with

Point point2 that's not enough do that's

not enough well you you're looking at

statistics and you're looking at it from

a standpoint of how they have been

playing throughout this year do I'm

looking at it based off of what I was

seeing yesterday in that first half

thank you you were running rough shot

all over San Francisco even more and

when they score you get the ball back so

the point is you had opportunities to

keep the ball you had opport look when

they scored their last touchdown

obviously to pull it to within three and

ultimately try an onside kick you know

what they wern't just throwing a

football they were running it too they

were getting it to guys like Gibbs as

well and so I'm just saying you can't go

away from

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that