Looks like Lions Dan Campbell's comments 'See you in 2 weeks' fueled 2 upsets

As the Los Angeles Rams sat their starters in Week 18 to rest up for the upcoming 2025 NFL Playoffs, neither the Minnesota Vikings nor the Detroit Lions opted to follow suit. Both teams entered Week 18 with a record of 14-2, and their showdown is the stuff that NFL schedulers dream about. The winner of the game would not only claim the title of the NFC North Division Championship, but they would earn the top seed in the NFC Playoffs. The loser would fall to 5th seed and face the unpleasant fate of traveling through much of the NFL Playoffs.

Both teams wanted to earn top seeding.

The Detroit Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 33-9. At the end of the game, cameras closed in on both teams' head coaches as they exchanged greetings on the football field. But Lions HC Dan Campbell kept things entertaining by telling Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell a statement that has not aged well at all.

"Good job. Great season. I will see you in two weeks."

Dan Campbell

It was the type of comment that places the whammy on an NFL team.

At the time the comment was made, it was relevant to the upcoming game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams. Some fans scoffed at the idea that any comments made could be used to motivate their next opponent. But it was quickly learned that LA Rams players did indeed hear those comments, and were motivated by them.

Of course, the Rams roster has a lot more than a comment to motivate them in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. But it was clear from the Wild Card Round that the Rams were not the type of team that welcomed the thought of being overlooked by an opponent.

How ironic that the Washington Commanders, the sixth-seeded team in the NFC, was able to find the passion and motivation to humble the Detroit Lions in Detroit in the Divisional Round. The Commanders bested the Lions by a convincing score of 45-31.

The Commanders' victory raises the stakes for the Rams - Eagles game: The winner of that game will now host the Commanders in the NFC Championship game.

Did the comments from Dan Campbell cause the Commanders to upset the Lions? It certainly did not help. Regular season games in the NFL can be won or lost by passionate head coaches. But it takes more than words to win in the postseason.

Neither the Vikings nor the Lions advanced in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, which is quite ironic considering that both teams were playing for the right to earn a BYE week as the playoffs began. In the end, Campbell and O'Connell can see each other in two weeks. They simply have to choose the sports bar, and can watch the LA Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

As always, thanks for reading.

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