DETROIT − Eventually, this winning streak will come to an end.

At some point, the Detroit Lions’ surprising and underdog victories—especially their recent successes against archrivals—will reach a conclusion. However, that moment is not now. Particularly after the Lions secured a critical 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at Ford Field, officially sealing their playoff spot with a remarkable 12-1 record and edging closer to clinching the NFC’s top seed.

Perhaps it won’t even stop next year.

However, the reality is that sooner or later, luck may run out, and the Lions might start losing close games and feeling the pressure in December like most other NFL teams do.

Something fundamental that will remain unchanged with the Lions—provided Dan Campbell stays as head coach—is their fearless approach. They never back down from a challenge.

In a critical moment, with just 43 seconds left and needing a yard on fourth down, instead of opting for a safe field goal, Campbell chose to press on. His faith in his trusted running back and quarterback paid off, sealing the game.

Even after a previous fourth-down attempt failed, which allowed the Packers to score easily, Campbell still called for another fourth-down play, fully aware of what’s on the line.

Why did he do that?

Perhaps Campbell has been inspired by countless films or motivational quotes about bravery. Think of famous lines like: Remember the Alamo. They died with their boots on. Yippee ki-yay, mother— the essence is clear.

“I think he does a great job knowing when to take risks and when not to,” said quarterback Jared Goff. “Because it worked, everyone will praise it as a brilliant call. If it hadn’t worked, he would have faced blowback.”

“That’s the game he plays, and that’s why we trust him—he’s the one with the big stones.”

True, if Goff hadn’t successfully handed off to David Montgomery and the Packers had taken the win, Campbell would have been heavily criticized.

However, Campbell stands out as an exceptional figure in the coaching world. Over nearly three decades as a sportswriter covering various sports, I’ve seen many coaches, but none of them handle criticism the way he does.

It’s not that he ignores criticism; rather, he believes strongly in his choices. He’s prepared to accept negative outcomes because he trusts his judgment. When he realizes he’s mistaken, he acknowledges it openly.

Campbell is inherently more daring than the majority of NFL coaches, who typically adopt a conservative approach. However, his aggression is calculated; he knew he had to leverage his offense to support a defense weakened by injuries.

That included embracing risk and owning whatever comes with it.

He instructed his team to maintain their unique style regardless of the scoreboard. They successfully converted four out of five fourth-down attempts, while the Packers didn’t attempt a single fourth-down conversion.

“It didn’t matter if we were ahead or behind; we had to play our brand of football,” he stated. “The risk was inherent, but I felt it was essential to approach that game with the strategy I had in mind.”

His previous failed attempt at a fourth down in the third quarter didn’t derail his overall game strategy. He recognized the necessity of offensive strength to shield his depleted defense.

“Early in the week, he challenged us to step up offensively and own our roles,” Goff reflected. “It was our obligation to perform and lead the team in this game.”

“You’re like, ‘Let’s get this going and make it happen.’”

“For me, that’s an incredible feeling. You’re pumped up and ready to transform that energy into action.”

When the offense pulled off a win that felt more like a statement than a close call, Campbell took note and stored this moment for the future.

“A lot has to do with what we’ve had to face,” Campbell noted. “Given the challenges we’ve encountered, it’s heartening to see our players refuse to make excuses; they just find solutions.”

“Everyone on this squad was confident we would win that match, and we would discover a way to do it, and that’s exactly what happened. We did it again. The players made it happen.”

And they truly did.

Despite being short-staffed, they faced the challenge head-on. They may have been wounded but remained resolute.

Bravo, Dan Campbell.