Lions coach Dan Campbell full of ‘controlled fury’ after controversial defeat by the Cowboys… Detroit vows to use late heartache ‘as fuel’ ahead of playoffs: ‘I have pure octane right now’
Lions coach Dan Campbell has vowed that Detroit will use Saturday's controversial loss to the Cowboys as 'fuel' for their playoff run, insisting: 'I have controlled anger and I'm ready to go'
The Lions thought they had the victory late in Dallas, but the officials denied Taylor Decker a two-point conversion for 'illegal touching' – despite the player insisting he reported as eligible for the game.
Campbell was furious with the decision, saying after the match: “I don't want to talk about it.”
But during his speech on Monday, ahead of the Lions' final regular-season game against the Vikings, Campbell was in a more defiant mood.
The coach said he now had “controlled anger.” Campbell also promised that his team would not feel sorry for themselves over the decision.
Dan Campbell has vowed the Lions will use their controversial loss to the Cowboys as 'fuel'
Detroit boss furious after late 'illegal touching' call in 20-19 loss at Dallas
“I'm doing well,” Campbell told reporters. 'I woke up yesterday, I'm ready. I have controlled anger and I'm ready to go. I'm definitely ready to go.
'I'm not going the other way and neither is the team: we're on a mission and we're not going to feel sorry for ourselves and wallow in everything.
“We had to make plays, but we didn't make them. It's a tight game, a good opponent, the atmosphere of a play-off, and you have to make that one extra play that we didn't do.
'So we're going to use this as fuel. I now have pure octane. I woke up, I'm ready, so we're moving forward.”
The 11-5 Lions have already secured the NFC North title and a spot in the playoffs.