After eliminating the Bucs in the playoffs, Lions now focus on the 49ers.

DETROIT: Dan Campbell gave an intense statement during his hour-long news conference on January 21, 2021, which became known as the “kneecaps” speech. Campbell is the next coach of the Detroit Lions.

We’re going to kick you in the teeth, that’s what this team is founded on, right? And we’re going to smile at you when you hit us back,” Campbell said to reporters. “And when you knock us down, we’re going to climb back up and bite off our kneecaps in the process. Alright?”

Three years to the day of that speech, on Sunday, Campbell had the Lions celebrating their 31-23 triumph at Ford Field over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, securing their spot in the NFC Championship Game.

the first in thirty-two years.

“I envisioned that we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that’s where we’re at,” Campbell stated afterwards. “All you have to do is enter, and the key is to position yourself to move as efficiently as possible. It starts off a little easier if you receive a home game and perhaps a second one.”

Only thrice in team history have the Lions won multiple playoff games in a season; the other two times were in 1952 and 1957, when they won NFL titles (prior to the Super Bowl era). Next Sunday, Detroit will play the 49ers in San Francisco, with the NFC championship at stake.

The Lions, who were 3-13-1 in 2021, were among the poorest teams in the league; nevertheless, under Campbell’s leadership, they have made their first conference title run since the 1991 season. His players adhere to his leadership style of lunch-pail, all in.

Lions offensive lineman Penei Sewell stated, “I owe that man, everything, and I’ll put it all on the line for him. Right now, I’m just happy to see where we are.” “And we’ve got a lot more left in the tank, a lot more meat on the bone, so that’s what we’re shooting for.”

Jared Goff, the quarterback, stated that the Lions are “not here by accident,” citing the assistance of general manager Brad Holmes and the coaching staff in forming the team’s roster.

“We expected to win the first game (against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round), we expected to win this game, and now we get to go,” the player said without trying to come off as conceited.to a game we’re going to be playing at their location against a really talented team — and we’re going to go into it with the intention of winning,” Goff stated. “It’ll be a tough game, but it’ll be fun.”

According to ESPN BET, the Niners began as 7-point favorites.

Against Tampa Bay, Goff completed 11 of 12 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter alone. Goff, who had a career-high two throwing touchdowns and 287 passing yards at the end of the game, was greatly assisted by the Lions’ 2023 draft class. Sam LaPorta, the 34th choice, recorded nine catches for 65 receiving yards, which was the highest ever by a rookie tight end in an NFL playoff game. With 13:13 left in the fourth quarter, the Lions led 24-17 thanks to a 31-yard touchdown run by No. 12-selected player Jahmyr Gibbs. After Doak Walker, Gibbs became the second player in Lions history to score a touchdown on the ground in back-to-back postseason games.it in the NFL championship games of 1952 and 1953), and the first to accomplish it in a single playoffs. Gibbs added 40 receiving yards to his 74 yards of rushing.

With 1:39 remaining in the game, Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes made a game-winning interception off Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield on a short pass in the middle of the field, sending Lions supporters into a frenzy inside Ford Field.

As a former tight end who spent three seasons with the Lions (2006–2008), Campbell understood their enthusiasm. After the 1970 merger, he is currently the ninth different coach to lead a team he played for to the conference title game. He declared that he is not squandering this opportunity.

“When you travel to L.A. or anywhere else, it’s not the first thing you think of,” Campbell remarked of Detroit. “There are many activities going on in addition to the beach and sun. And it’s not always easy here, man—we have hard winters, the car sector, blue collar jobs. And it seems to me that’s our main goal. You want the city to take pride in it.

“You may say, ‘Man, I can back that man,’ after glancing at those folks. I support the group. Those boys and I have a common bond. They taste a little salty. They don’t give up. They put a lot of effort into their play. Thus, it seems like we’ve accomplished that. And it seems to me that these men are related to this city.

in this region, and, in the end, that’s what you want, guy, and they adore it. We could start to get booed in a year or two, but that’s an other story. However, life is excellent right now, and I’m happy we could make that happen.”