Lions coach Dan Campbell says it's not time to freak out after first loss in 3 months

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions are coming off their first loss in three months.

“This is not time to freak out and panic and start acting like things are worse than they are,” coach Dan Campbell said Monday.

Campbell, though, doesn't like that Detroit gave up 48 points in a six-point loss to the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills on its home turf.

“Losing is one thing, it’s also how we lost that puts a bad taste in your mouth,” he said.

Detroit (12-2) lost more than its franchise-record 11-game winning streak against Buffalo.

The Lions' long list of injured players now includes running back David Montgomery, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, cornerback Carlton Davis and special teams ace Khalil Dorsey.

Campbell said Montgomery and McNeill, two of the team's best players, need to have season-ending knee surgeries after both were hurt in the loss to the Bills. Dorsey had season-ending surgery Sunday night after breaking his leg against Buffalo. Davis is out indefinitely with a jaw injury.

The Lions, who still have hopes of defending their NFC North title and earning the top seed in the conference playoffs, play at Chicago on Sunday.

“I’m sure there will be a ton of stuff written about the sky falling, but no, internally, we’re good,” Jared Goff said after matching a career high and team record with five touchdown passes and throwing for 494 yards against Buffalo. “We would’ve loved to win every game out, all the way through the Super Bowl.

“I hope we can look back on this one as a good learning lesson for us and move on and use some of the stuff that we learned in this game to help us win these next three before we hit the playoffs.”

After traveling to play the Bears, the Lions will play at San Francisco the following week before closing the season at home against rival Minnesota, perhaps with the division title at stake.

Scoring. The NFL's top-scoring team scored 40-plus points for the fifth time, matching the 1952 team's franchise record.

Hurry-up offense. The Lions had slim odds of coming back to beat Buffalo, but they did not have a sense of urgency on their, 16-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by a touchdown to pull within six points.

“No excuse for that,” Campbell said. “That’ll be something that we talk about.”

Tim Patrick. Detroit didn't know who its No. 3 receiver would be after letting Josh Reynolds leave in free agency. Patrick has been the answer. After missing the previous two seasons with injuries, he has 31 receptions for 379 yards, and his three touchdowns have come in the last two games.

Frank Ragnow. The three-time Pro Bowl center was called for holding twice against Buffalo. He was also part of an offensive line that didn't create many holes for running backs and allowed Goff to get sacked three times after giving up a total of two sacks over the previous two games.

The impact of the season-ending injuries to Montgomery, McNeill and Dorsey could be massive.

“Nobody cares,” Campbell said. “Nobody is going to give us a pass, or put an asterisk next to your record.”

8 — When McNeill is put on injured reserve, he will become the eighth Lions defensive lineman to be on the list no one wants to be on.

Campbell plans to put his team through some relatively tough practices this week to find out who can fill in for injured players, particularly McNeill and Davis.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) dives over Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) to score during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) reacts on the field in front of guard Graham Glasgow (60) and offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, bottom, reacts next to quarterback Jared Goff during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Cam Lewis (39) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, middle, is tackled by Buffalo Bills safety Kareem Jackson (27) and cornerback Cam Lewis during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley both played through injuries that served more as minor inconveniences than long-term concerns for the Eagles.

Injuries heal.

So, it turns out, do bruised egos and hard feelings caused by criticism and gossip spread not by fans, social media tolls or sports talk radio — but from inside Philadelphia's locker room.

Hurts connected with wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith for touchdowns and the Eagles put to rest any in-house dissention over their offense in Sunday's 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Eagles (12-2) won their 10th straight game, a franchise record. A victory this weekend at Washington would give them the NFC East title, and they moved into a tie with Detroit for the best record in the conference.

With three games left, the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye are still in play. All they need to do is stay healthy.

Hurts said he played through a broken finger on his non-throwing hand while Barkley, the NFL's rushing leader, said he battled “a little something” against the Steelers that forced him to the medical tent.

When the Eagles are on the same page, injuries might be the only thing that can slow them down.

“I just felt extremely locked in and focused through the entire week, through what could have been a time where people could say, ‘What’s going on over in Philadelphia?'” coach Nick Sirianni said.

Smith and Brown both grumbled about the state of the passing game following a lackluster effort a week earlier against Carolina. Defensive end Brandon Graham then suggested in a radio appearance there were problems between Hurts and Brown.

After they thumped Pittsburgh, the Eagles acted like one big happy family in the locker room.

“Behind closed doors, we talk about that, we called each other out,” Brown said. “That's very uncomfortable. You don't want to feel like you're getting attacked. We're trying to get on the same page. We're trying to win.”

The passing game. Brown had eight catches for 110 yards, and Smith had 11 for 109 yards a week after they combined for only eight catches and 80 yards. Hurts finished with 290 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“I asked the question to everyone. ‘Hey, we’re going to have to go do this together.’ Started with that, and then I said, ‘Let’s not forget to keep the main thing the main thing,'” Hurts said. “I said, ‘You do know what the main thing is, right?’ And they were spot on. So we can’t forget that. And it takes everyone to win. And it can look a ton of different ways.”

The Eagles could use some assistance from the NFC North. Detroit and Minnesota each need to lose another game and Philadelphia must run the table to clinch the No. 1 seed.

Sirianni. It was no surprise that his game plan called for early throws to Brown and Smith that could quiet the talk both inside and outside the locker room.

“We threw for more yards, so I know that’s going to be, hell, the passing game is back. I don’t think the passing game was anywhere,” Sirianni said. “I think it’s been a little bit blown out of proportion because of how efficient we’ve been.”

Philly fans who love to complain. Like touting Wawa over Sheetz or cheesesteaks over Primanti's, they even got to boast about their superiority against Pittsburgh.

Hurts and the Eagles gave the fans nothing to whine about. Well, give it a day.

Barkley didn't show much concern over whatever ailed him against the Steelers. He was drilled in the right knee by Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and then landed on his right shoulder late in the first quarter. He rushed two times for 3 yards after the hit, then didn’t have another carry until after halftime.

Barkley said his right knee was fine and he was not injured on Fitzpatrick’s hit.

“Nothing crazy. Little minor,” Barkley said. “Get ready for next week.”

12 — The Eagles are 12-2 or better through 14 games for only the fourth time in team history — 2022 (13-1), 2017 (12-2) and 2004 (13-1). This is the seventh time Philadelphia has won 12-plus games (also 1980, 2002-04, 2017 and 2022).

Sirianni is the second coach in franchise history to record multiple 12-plus-win seasons (he went 14-3 in 2022), joining Andy Reid (three, 2002-04). He is the first Eagles coach to do so within his first four years.

The Eagles will try to wrap up the division title when they visit the Commanders (9-5).

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr., center, reacts after he recovered a fumble during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) is tackled after a catch by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) and Steelers' Cameron Sutton (20) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) is tackled after a catch by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) and Steelers' Cameron Sutton during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) runs with the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Dean Lowry (94) as he loses his helmet during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson embrace after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts greets Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)