Dan Campbell always looks forward to his visits to the Dallas Cowboys, as it feels like a homecoming for the Detroit coach, who is originally from Texas.
This visit comes about nine months after a controversial two-point conversion call cost the Lions a 20-19 loss, which hurt their chances for the top spot in the NFC. While Campbell acknowledges the idea of wanting revenge, he isn’t overly emotional as they prepare for Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium.
The Lions have started the season 3-1 for two years in a row, which is their best start in a decade, while the Cowboys (3-2) have bounced back after two tough home losses by winning twice on the road.
“You’ve got to keep your head about you no matter what it is, and I think each game, you can always find something,” Campbell said. He was born less than 100 miles from Dallas and played three of his ten NFL seasons with the Cowboys.
“There are reasons behind why you want to win them, and you find what those are and they’re different every week.”
Last December 30, the Lions had just driven 75 yards to score a touchdown with 23 seconds left. Campbell decided to go for a two-point conversion, using a play he had told the officials about beforehand.
Lineman Taylor Decker caught the pass, which would have given them a 21-20 lead, but officials ruled that Dan Skipper had reported as eligible while Decker had not. Quarterback Jared Goff believed the opposite was true.
Goff then threw an interception on the second attempt, but the Cowboys were offsides, leading to a third try, which was an incomplete pass short of the goal line.
While reporters were interested in that play, they also noted Goff’s recent achievement of completing all 18 of his passes in a 42-29 victory over Seattle. The Lions had a bye last week, but the conversation quickly returned to the controversial play that affected their playoff position last season.
