Detroit’s All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell fought back tears after the Lions surrendered 446 yards and fell to 1–1 in Week 2.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell broke down in tears while accepting responsibility for his team’s lopsided 41–31 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.espn+2
The 2025 All-Pro linebacker said he played “terrible” and insisted the defensive breakdowns started with him, even as teammates and coaches pointed to broader issues across the unit. Campbell finished with six tackles and a quarterback hit, but Detroit’s defense allowed 446 total yards, 34 first downs and converted 9 of 12 third-down attempts while failing to stop the Bills in any of their five red-zone trips.espn+3
Buffalo built a 21–0 first-half lead and led 27–10 at halftime, with quarterback Josh Allen accounting for five total touchdowns as the Lions struggled to generate consistent pressure or coverage. Detroit’s defense has now allowed at least 30 points in consecutive games to start the season, marking the first time that has happened in the first two weeks since 2021, the opening season of head coach Dan Campbell’s tenure.espn+2
In an emotional postgame interview in the visitors’ locker room, Campbell rejected any excuses related to the short week, the new stadium or coaching. “It starts with me, and I feel like it’s on me. I gotta be better,” he said, adding that he needed to look in the mirror and improve for the sake of the offense and the entire locker room. Teammate Derrick Barnes later said he would help Campbell turn things around, underscoring the leadership role Campbell holds on defense.espn+4
Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who recorded a sack and two quarterback hits, said the performance was “not good enough” and promised that changes would come, though he did not specify what those would be. Head coach Dan Campbell echoed the frustration, telling reporters the “little [things] are killing us” and that the team now has a clearer picture of where it stands after two games. He singled out the secondary, saying the Lions must “clean up a lot of things on defense right now, particularly in the back end.”espn+2
The Lions (1–1) will look to regroup before hosting the New York Jets in Week 3, while the Bills improve to 2–0 after their first regular-season game in the new Highmark Stadium. For Detroit, the immediate focus is stopping the bleeding on defense after surrendering 30-plus points in five of their past eight regular-season contests dating to last year.espn+1
KEY FACTS:
● Final score: Buffalo Bills 41, Detroit Lions 31; Lions fall to 1–1.espn+1
● Lions defense allowed 446 yards, 34 first downs and 9-of-12 on third down; Bills were perfect (5-for-5) in the red zone.sports.yahoo+1
● Jack Campbell posted six tackles and a QB hit but emotionally took full blame; Detroit has allowed 30+ points in each of its first two games for the first time since 2021.espn+2
SOURCES:
● ESPN – “Emotional All-Pro LB Campbell shoulders blame for Lions’ loss” https://www.espn.in/nfl/story//id/49970421/emotional-all-pro-lb-campbell-shoulders-blame-lions-lossespn+1
● Yahoo Sports – “‘I got to be better’: Emotional Lions captain takes blame after loss to Bills” https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/got-better-emotional-lions-captain-054720871.htmlsports.yahoo+1
● The Athletic (via Yahoo Sports) – “Lions news: Dan Campbell states the obvious about dreadful defense in loss to Bills” https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lions-news-dan-campbell-states-061049116.htmlsports.yahoo
● LV Fox Sports – “Hutchinson, Campbell Rip Lions’ ‘Terrible’ Defense; ‘There Will Be Changes’” https://www.lvfoxsports.com/2026/09/18/hutchinson-campbell-rip-lions-terrible-defense-there-will-be-changes/lvfoxsports
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