Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell fights back tears after shock NFL playoff defeat to Washington Commanders

Detroit Lions caput manager Dan Campbell was near connected the verge of tears successful his postgame property league after their daze playoff exit connected Saturday night.

Despite heading into the postseason arsenic Super Bowl favorites, Campbell could lone ticker connected arsenic his Lions fell astatine the precise archetypal hurdle successful the Divisional circular against the Washington Commanders.

The hosts turned the shot implicit 5 times successful a 45-31 nonaccomplishment astatine Ford Field, which means their hold for a archetypal ever Super Bowl quality goes on. 

It comes arsenic a large stroke for the metropolis of Detroit aft a sensational regular play successful which they claimed the NFC's apical effect for the archetypal clip ever with a 15-2 record.

And during his postgame presser, a devastated Campbell fought backmost the tears portion discussing their elimination.

'It conscionable hurts to lose, man,' helium said. 'I don't attraction if you're the 7 seed, six seed, 5 seed, 1 seed... origin I've mislaid each of them, damn near.'

'It hurts,' helium continued. 'At the extremity of the day, I didn't person them ready.' 

As helium became much and much emotional, Campbell aboriginal added: 'What [the players] enactment into it, a batch of radical don't cognize what they spell through. You person to get up, your body's bushed to s***, mentally enactment locked successful and bash those things. Long season.

'It's my fault. It's my fault.'

The Lions went successful astatine the halftime interruption trailing 31-21 aft an ill-fated archetypal fractional which saw backmost Jared Goff propulsion 3 picks and suffer a fumble.

Overall, the NFC's apical seemed doomed its chances by turning the shot implicit 5 times astatine Ford Field.

Rookie Commanders backmost Jayden Daniels, meanwhile, didn't crook it implicit erstwhile portion completing 22 of his 31 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns successful different masterful display. 

As Daniels was celebrating astatine Ford Field, an awkward clip of Lions caput manager Campbell resurfaced connected societal media.

Two weeks ago, arsenic the Lions bushed the Minnesota Vikings successful the last week of the regular play to clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed, Campbell was caught connected camera saying to Vikings caput manager Kevin O'Connell: 'I'll spot you successful 2 weeks.'

Campbell was apt conscionable trying to beryllium respectful to his beaten opponents alternatively than dismissing the remainder of the teams successful the NFC - but fans instantly pounced connected the remarks.

And now, it shows what a quality a fortnight tin make.

The pursuing week, the Vikings were blown distant 27-9 by the Los Angeles Rams successful a crippled that was moved to Arizona arsenic a effect of the LA wildfires.

It was adjacent claimed that Campbell's comments were pinned up successful the Rams locker country arsenic added information for Matthew Stafford and his team. 

And with the Commanders present ending Campbell and the Lions' season, those words person genuinely travel backmost to wound him. 

'Turns retired Dan Campbell was talking astir seeing Kevin O’Connell successful Cancun,' the NFL Memes X.