Tom Brady talked about Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell's decision-making late in the game against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Campbell decided to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal twice in the second half. He also received criticism for calling a running play at the 49ers' 1-yard line as the team attempted to add pressure on San Francisco late in the game. The running play forced the Lions to take a timeout.
Brady talked about some of the plays when the Lions lost the game 34-31 despite being up 17 points. He first had trouble with the goal line carry with 1:05 left in the game and trailed by 10 points.
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“Well, the whole team is responsible. I will say that ultimately it's a team sport and the coach makes these decisions and you have to execute them,” Brady said on the “Let's Go!” podcast on Monday night. “My opinion differed on all those plays as well. I definitely thought the handoff there at the end of the game, that was the one I didn't understand because unless you saw an incredible look to walk the ball, you just can't take the risk that Stop you in your tracks and keep the clock ticking, because you simply can't get the ball back.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell celebrates a touchdown scored by running back Jahmyr Gibbs during the first half of the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 28 of 2024. (Junfu Han/RED USA TODAY)
“So that was the one where I just said I don't know what they're doing. And I thought that was just a flat-out mistake.”
Brady said he would have taken the points instead of trying to convert them on fourth down.
“And then the other ones are judgment calls, and they've been aggressive all year. Obviously, when you're aggressive and it doesn't work, it comes back to bite you, and it came back to bite them yesterday.” ,” he said. “And again, I would have taken the points. I've been in those situations. I look at them and say, OK, this is the opportunity for you to continue to keep the pressure on the 49ers to make big plays. and you were in a good position.
“So, you know, it's an aggressive coach, an aggressive mentality. I'm sure the players really wanted to try, you know, when you're on the field and you feel like you let him down. But at the same time, the coach has to take in mind the best decision to win. And obviously it didn't work out for the Lions.”
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on during warmups before the NFC championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 28, 2024. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Campbell's decisions on fourth down really riled up the NFL world.
The first attempt came with 7:03 left in the third quarter with the Lions up 24-10. Detroit had a chance to go up 17 points, but the team decided to go for it on 4th-and-2 at the 49ers' 28-yard line. Jared Goff threw a pass to Josh Reynolds, but it was incomplete.
In the fourth quarter, Detroit could have tied the game with a field goal, but decided to go for it on 4th and 3. Goff threw a pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, but it was also incomplete.
Detroit had two opportunities to put at least six points on the scoreboard. However, his aggressiveness failed twice as the 49ers advanced in the second half.
Campbell said after the game that he had “no regrets” about the decisions.
“I felt really good about the conversion,” Campbell said after the game. “And get our momentum and not let them play long balls. They were wasting time, that's what they do, and I wanted to get the lead back.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown, number 14 of the Detroit Lions, celebrates after a play against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFC Championship football game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara , California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The Lions have attempted fourth downs more often since Campbell took over as head coach. The Lions were successful 54.76% of the time on fourth down, which ranked 12th in the NFL, according to Team Rankings.
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However, their game plan may have cost them a trip to the Super Bowl.
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