There was a lot of uncertainty after the 28-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings when it came to the Detroit Lions kicking game.
Head coach Dan Campbell even saying he regretted his decision to try a long field goal late in the game. Austin Seibert went 1 for 3 on field goals, missing from both the 48-yard line and the 54-yard line.
The first field goal hit the upright in the first quarter, while the second miss was wide right late in the 4th quarter. The longest field goal Seibert has ever hit was a 52-yarder back in 2019. Some were blaming the open windows at U.S. Bank Stadium for all the missed field goals, but Special Teams Coordinator Dave Fipp put that theory to rest on Thursday.
“I would say, in that stadium on that day that was absolutely no factor in my opinion.”
The 54-yard field goal attempted late in the quarter was the option Coach Campbell took, rather than to go for it on a 4th and 4. The team had successfully converted four fourth-downs throughout the game. Campbell elaborated on his decision on Monday.
“I know he missed the first one, but he came back, and he made the second one, and so I felt like he’d make this. And it didn’t work out.”
While Campbell openly regretted his decision in a post-game press conference, he said Monday he hasn’t lost any confidence in the kicker.
“Well, yeah, listen. I would be willing to give him another go. I mean I’m – if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t have let him kick there at the end of the game.”
Seibert’s injury continues to bother him
Seibert won a preseason battle to make the 53-man roster, beating out Riley Patterson. Patterson was picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars and has now completed seven of eight field goals, including one from 52-yards. He has missed practice all week with a right groin injury. This is an injury he’s been dealing with since the end of training camp. Coach Campbell mentioned Monday that he was feeling a little sore after Sunday’s game, so they weren’t sure what was going to happen to him.
Dominik Eberle has been the lone kicker practicing all week with P Jack Fox and LS Scott Daly. It is likely we see Eberle in the game on Sunday. Coach Fipp says this could be Eberle’s shot to make an impact.
“If it comes to Eberle, maybe this is his shot, and he turns into being a great player. I believe that could happen for him and I hope it does if he gets that opportunity.”
The Detroit Lions take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at 1pm ET in Ford Field.