Dan Campbell’s Lions play-calling change was a smashing success

Dan Campbell wanted to “try something a little different” this week during the Lions’ game against the Commanders when it came to Detroit’s offense. 

That meant taking over the play-calling in the 44-22 win over the Commanders, and it paid off with the Lions finishing with a season-best 546 yards and scoring on all but one of their possessions in the game at Northeast Stadium.

They ran for 226 yards.

While Campbell was looking to change things up after Detroit mustered just 65 rushing yards in their loss to the Vikings last week, he said that offensive coordinator John Morton is still involved. 

“Look, I know what I want to do, I know how I want to do it,” Campbell said. “Now, that being said, this is a collaborative effort, now. I was taking input from John Morton the whole time, and the other coaches. … This is all encompassing. We all work together. The coaches did a hell of a job, but I just wanted to change things up a little bit. Let’s just see if maybe a different play-caller can, maybe give us a little rhythm. That’s all. And, honestly, it’s nothing more than that.”

He added: “We made a change, it was good for today.” 

Campbell has opted to make the play calls himself in the past. 

The Lions head coach took over the play-calling responsibilities back in 2021 — his first year as head coach — from then offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, and Detroit found some success following the move. 

Campbell called Morton “vital” to him and didn’t indicate that the situation now was similar to that one.

“I know how the other one ended, but this is where I’m at, and he’s in a great spot. He helped me out today,” Campbell said. 

Morton is in his first year with the Lions and replaced Ben Johnson after the latter left in the offseason to take over as the Bears’ head coach.