Why Lions' Dan Campbell decided to go for 4th-down conversion in critical moment vs. Ravens

Billy Heyen

Why Lions' Dan Campbell decided to go for 4th-down conversion in critical moment vs. Ravens image

This is what Dan Campbell does.

With a 31-24 lead coming out of the two-minute warning, the Detroit Lions had a fourth-and-2 at their own 48-yard line.

They could've just punted the ball back to the Baltimore Ravens, figuring that the worst outcome is probably overtime.

But the Lions went for it.

And because this is Dan Campbell's world and we're just living in it, it worked.

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Why did the Lions go for it on 4th down?

The Lions go for it on fourth down in more gutsy situations than anyone in football.

In this spot, they knew that if they got the first down, they'd be just one more first down from winning the game, based on the Ravens' remaining timeouts.

They called a play-action pass. Amon-Ra St. Brown motioned in-line, then faked a block and ran out over the top.

Jared Goff tossed it in to his lap to convert.

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On the very next play, David Montgomery ran for a touchdown and a two-score lead.

The Lions' choice certainly paid off.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle