The 2022 NFL season begins on Sunday for the Detroit Lions. In Week 1, the Philadelphia Eagles come to town for their season-opener with high expectations for a team that made the playoffs last season.

Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell heads into his second year with the Lions’ organization. During the press conference on Wednesday, Coach Campbell told the media what he said to Sheila Ford Hamp the other day.

“‘You know what, here’s where we’re at. We’re better. We’re better than we were this time last year, and that’s where it is.”’ Also adding, “Now, what does that mean, it means we’re better than we were this time last year. I don’t know what that equates into, I just know we’re better.”

Tickets for the season opener at Ford Field are sold out, leaving only standing room available. Campbell expressed his excitement for the fans heading into Sunday.

“I know that it’s going to be a packed house, and I mean, you couldn’t ask for anything more when you’re opening up the season. Us being at home, man, it’s the first one, and it’s going to be electric.”

The Detroit Lions face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. The blowout loss last season to the Eagles has not been forgotten, with Head Coach Dan Campbell speaking on the matchup.

“I mean, they pose a threat. I mean they do. They’ve got plenty of weapons. They’ve got plenty of talent. So, we’ve got to be on it, man. We’ve got to be on all the little details as it pertains to this gameplan to beat this team.”  While he knows what challenges they are up against, he doesn’t doubt their abilities.  He said, “I do believe we have a gritty group, and I think we’re tough, and I think we’re physical. And we’ve got to play with our hair on fire. And I think we will.”

Head Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Sirianni, spoke to the media Wednesday, and he doesn’t disagree with Campbell.

“This team plays hard offensively, defensively, they play hard.”  

Sirianni emphasized; while they have done their homework, they know they’ll have to make adjustments based on what the Lions bring to the table on Sunday. 

“There’s so many unknown challenges that an opening game presents you.” Adding, “There’s obviously things that the Lions have been working on throughout their offseason and throughout their training camp that we haven’t seen before.”

Sirianni believes this Detroit Lions team is very talented. While watching tape and preparing for this game he said, “I’m seeing a lot of players that i liked and I was like ‘Man the lions got them, I wanted a chance to coach him!’”

Coach Campbell is confident in his players and coaching staff. He gave an update on OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who they placed on IR yesterday. He is dealing with a back injury that flared up during the preseason game in Pittsburgh. This could be a significant blow to the Lions’ offensive line, but Campbell said otherwise.

“…Here’s what I do know, man. The O-line, as long as you get a group of guys that know how to work together and they’re tough and they’re smart, you can make great things happen, and we’ve got plenty of that still up there, so we’ll be fine.”

Coach Campbell wrapped up his thoughts on the perhaps overly ecstatic Lions fans.

“This is what we talked about, man, when I came in last year, that’s where we want to get it to a point to where, man, the fans are excited, and they’ve got some hope, and now it’s our job to keep them in it. And keep them excited, and to know that we’re in there, and we’re in it, at the end of the game, we find a way to win.”

The Lions and Eagles will Kickoff at 1pm ET this Sunday.

Maddy Miller – Detroit Lions Beat Reporter

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports