The Detroit Lions are getting set to battle the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs this Sunday, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell understands his team has a tough task ahead.
Especially when it comes to containing the Rams’ pass rushers.
Between defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner, Los Angeles boasts one of the best interior pass-rushing duos in football, and Campbell is preparing for the challenge.
“Disruptive. TFLs (tackles for losses). In the pass game, quarterback pressures, sacks,” Campbell said of Turner, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “If you’re going to put your attention on 99 [Donald], then we’ve got to win our one-on-one versus 91 [Turner]. It’s challenging.”
Turner has been one of the most impressive rookies in the NFL this season, having racked up 57 tackles and nine sacks. Then there’s Donald, one of the best defensive players in league history who is still a force in his 10th season. Together, they cause massive headaches for opposing offenses.
“[Turner is] playing at a high level, he’s really coming on,” added Campbell. “The minute you try to take care of him, then Aaron is by himself and we know what he can do. Then again, I still love our matchup. I like our o-line. We’ve seen a lot of good fronts and have accepted those challenges. This will be no different. This will be a big challenge.”
Donald has made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his professional seasons. This year, he earned a selection after finishing with 53 tackles and eight sacks.
The Lions went 11-6 this year, capturing the NFC North division title. It marked the first time Detroit won a division crown since 1993. So, this will be the first time the Lions have hosted a playoff game in three decades.
Not only that, but Detroit has not won a playoff game since January 1992, when it made it to the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Washington Redskins.
We’ll see if Dan Campbell can break the Lions franchise out of their seemingly never-ending doldrums this weekend.
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