Lions turn attention to 49ers after ousting Bucs in playoffs - ESPN

DETROIT — On Jan. 21, 2021, Dan Campbell delivered a fiery message that became known as the «kneecaps» speech during his hourlong introductory news conference as new coach of the Detroit Lions.

«So, this team is going to be built on, we're going to kick you in the teeth, right? And when you punch us back, we're going to smile at you,» Campbell told reporters. «And when you knock us down, we're going to get up and, on the way up, we're going to bite a kneecap off. All right?»

On Sunday, exactly three years to the date of that speech, Campbell had the Lions celebrating a 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field that put them in the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 32 years.

«I envisioned that we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that's where we're at,» Campbell said afterward. «All you got to do is get in, and it's about placing yourself in the very best position to where you can move. You get a home game and maybe you get a second home game, and now all of a sudden it gets a little easier.»

The Lions now have captured multiple playoff wins in a season for just the third time in franchise history — joining the 1952 and 1957 seasons, when they won NFL championships (before the Super Bowl era). Detroit will visit the San Francisco 49ers with the NFC title on the line next Sunday.

Under Campbell's direction, the Lions have gone from one of the league's worst teams in 2021 (3-13-1) to their first conference title appearance since the 1991 campaign. His players are all-in while following his lunch-pail leadership style.

«I owe that man, everything, and I'll put it all on the line for him, and now I'm just happy to finally see where we are right now,» Lions offensive lineman Penei