Lions HC Dan Campbell explains why Detroit had to use its final timeout immediately after spiking the ball in the fourth quarter - and video shows the issue
The Detroit Lions came out of this game with a win. It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a win nonetheless. But maybe it had a chance not to be that. Late in the fourth quarter, the Lions were driving down the field looking to either get the game-winning touchdown or tie the game up.
After a 9-yard pass set up a first down for Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions got up to the line and spiked the ball. The whole point was to try and save that final timeout, but then moments later, they had to use it. So what happened?
Dan Campbell explains why the Lions had to use their final timeout right after spiking the ball in the fourth quarter
"Yeah, the headset communicator. I don't know what happened with that, to be honest with you, I just couldn't get to him (Jared Goff)." Campbell said. "So I don't know if something happened. I don't know, you know, the procedure of what goes on from me to him (Goff) to that, yeah, it was just one of those oddball, weird deals where, thank God it didn't cost us."
This is not the first time the Lions have had trouble with their headsets, but it usually does happen on the road, where things will just sort of go off-line. You can usually tell when it happens. If you go back and watch that moment now, you can see Jared Goff go to the official and point to his communicator as if to say, "I can't hear, I don't know what the play clock is at."
At the end of the day, it doesn't mean much. The Lions won the game, but for the fans wondering what happened there, this is what it is. It wasn't some sort of coaching mistake. It was an ill-timed technical issue.
Speaking of the next one, it could end up having some serious playoff implications. The Detroit Lions take on the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day in a tradition we look forward to every year. And, the current NFC playoff picture will tell you just how important this one is going to be.
Updated NFC playoff picture shows the Lions are set up for a pivotal Thanksgiving Day
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
3. Chicago Bears (8-3)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
6. Green Bay Packers (7-3-1)
7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
8. Detroit Lions (7-4)
9. Carolina Panthers (6-5)
10. Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)
This win over New York was the type of win to get fans incredibly nervous. Sure, the Giants don't have much else to lose at this point in the season, but they fought Detroit to the bitter end. It shouldn't have taken overtime to win this one.
Now, the Lions get to host an NFC North foe on Thanksgiving. The Green Bay Packers are coming off a win of their own, over the Minnesota Vikings, and now in their second-straight divisional matchup, Green Bay gets a chance to try and double down on their Week 1 win.
The Lions' defense was exposed in a big way against New York. If Jameis Winston and some backup skill position players could put up a whopping 517 yards of offense against Detroit's defense, then what do we think the Packers could do?
Jordan Love hasn't been what many Packers fans swore he would be in 2025, but the Packers' offense still has the potential to be far more lethal than that of the Giants'. Green Bay is likely getting Josh Jacobs back from injury, too, and that'll make this matchup even thougher.
Jordan Morgan's days might be numbered after Packers coach's reveal
It's safe to say that not all Cheeseheads were thrilled when the Green Bay Packers used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan at No. 25 overall, even if the Tucson native had earned First-Team All-Pac 12 honors in his final season with the Wildcats.
The disappointment grew when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury during training camp, a nagging injury that ultimately limited him to just six appearances as a rookie, only one of which was a start, and eventually ended his season prematurely. And it's not as if he played overly well in those six appearances either. Despite that fact, Morgan was seemingly in line for the starting job at left tackle heading into this 2025 campaign, but that role went to Rasheed Walker.
The 24-year-old has made eight starts this season, but those have been out of necessity, as several Green Bay offensive linemen have been forced out of action at times due to various injuries. Even now, Morgan is starting at right guard because Sean Rhyan has moved to center following the season-ending leg injury to Elgton Jenkins.
And while Morgan has had a few solid games here and there, he's had yet another disappointing season from an overall standpoint, as his 56.2 overall PFF grade ranks 52nd among 80 eligible guards.
But it appears as if Morgan's days at guard could be numbered. In a press conference ahead of the Packers' Week 12 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, offensive line coach Luke Butkus revealed that second-round rookie Anthony Belton, a tackle by trade, has recently started taking practice snaps on the interior.
Anthony Belton is getting reps at guard, which could be his eventual position for Packers
"Packers OL coach Luke Butkus said rookie second-rounder Anthony Belton has been repping inside in addition to tackle. Team expects their reserves to be able to fill in both inside and outside. Packers originally were only repping Belton at tackle," writes The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.
Before this week, at least as far as anyone outside of the organization really knows, Belton had only been taking reps at tackle. And in the four regular-season games in which he's been on the field with the offense, he's always been on the outside, taking 84 snaps at right tackle, 81 of those coming in Weeks 2 and 3 when Zach Tom was out with an oblique injury, and another seven at left tackle.
Butkus says he wants every Green Bay O-line reserve to be able to play both inside and outside, which makes sense. But the timing is a little interesting. Why wouldn't Belton be doing interior work all season if that's the case? And maybe he has. But again, this is the first time we're hearing about it.
One can only assume that if the Packers intend to give Belton more reps at guard, he won't be stealing snaps from left guard Aaron Banks, who has certainly struggled at times in his first season with the Green & Gold but is coming off his best overall game of the season in the Packers' Week 11 win over the New York Giants, earning the second-highest overall PFF grade of any Green Bay offensive starter at 83.4, trailing only quarterback Jordan Love (93.1).
So, if Belton is stealing snaps from anyone, the only logical choice would be Morgan.
Now, if Walker, who's set to hit free agency this spring, ends up signing elsewhere, perhaps Morgan can once again compete for the starting job at left tackle. But that's obviously Belton's preferred position as well. So, this will certainly be a situation worth monitoring, not only right now but in the months to come as well.
