Neither the Atlanta Falcons nor the Detroit Lions have been to the playoffs in the last five seasons, but both teams appear to be on the verge of turning things around.
The Falcons are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2017, while the Lions are 1-1 with a win over the defending Super Bowl champions. Credit for each team’s success has to go to head coaches Arthur Smith and Dan Campbell, both of whom were hired in the 2021 offseason.
Buy Falcons TicketsSmith has successfully implemented a run-first philosophy that has Atlanta playing with confidence again. Campbell has taken one of the least successful franchises in NFL history and made them into a team that people respect.
During his Monday press conference, Smith had high praise for Detroit’s head coach. “I love Dan Campbell,” Smith told reporters. “But In all seriousness, he’s a great coach and he’s done a hell of a job up there.”
Falcons HC Arthur Smith (there was a biting kneecap reference): "I love Dan Campbell. He's one of the I think maybe the league got too boring and corporate. It's healthy for the game but in all seriousness he's a great coach and he's done a hell of a job up there."
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) September 18, 2023
The Falcons will play their first road game of the season in Week 3 when they head to Detroit to take on the Lions. Both teams went against conventional NFL draft thinking by taking running backs in the first round this year.
Atlanta took Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick and the Lions traded back to take Jahmyr Gibbs at pick No. 12. Thus far, Robinson is second in the NFL in rushing (180 yards). Gibbs hasn’t been as involved in Detroit’s offense yet, but he’s a dual-threat back with a ton of upside.
Regardless of what happens on Sunday, it’s clear that when it comes to Smith and Campbell, neither coach minds doing things their own way.
