Dan Campbell Puts Lions on Notice Amid NFL’s Outburst in Blocked Field Goals
The Detroit Lions haven’t seen a field goal block impact one of their games this season. But Lions head coach Dan Campbell has certainly taken notice of the field goal and extra points blocked around the league.
On September 21 in Week 3, there were four blocked field goals, all of which happened in the fourth quarter. That was the most field goal blocks on a single day in the NFL since 1991.
There was another field goal blocked in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers –Minnesota Vikings matchup. On Sunday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys blocked an extra point.
Although it’s not his team giving up the blocked kicks, Campbell suggested Monday that seeing those attempts blocked gives him anxiety.
“I do [appreciate the block], but I hate watching [it]. I hate it,” Campbell said to reporters Monday while smiling. “Because I can put myself in the shoes of the field goal protection team.
“You can appreciate the guys who go for the blocks, but most of the time, it’s the protection — most of the time. Man, is it your own doing? But when I see them, I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ To lose that way, that’s tough.”
The Los Angeles Rams had a chance to kick the game-winning field goal in the final seconds against the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 3. But the attempt was blocked, which sealed the win for Philadelphia.
On Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers not only lost an extra point with a block, the Cowboys returned the try for a two-point conversion. That game ended in a 40-40 tie.
Campbell, though, sounds like a man on a mission not to allow blocked kicks be an issue for the Lions.
Dan Campbell Addresses the NFL’s Blocked Kick Pandemic
NFL coaches always try to find lessons to teach their players. Although a blocked field goal or extra point has yet to hurt the Lions, Campbell sees the rise in blocks as a warning of sorts.
“It’s a reminder to how important it is and how important special teams [are]. You battle your tail off for three hours and that one time you didn’t quite take that right step, or your pad level wasn’t good or you lunged or you didn’t and you’re too high. And the guy runs through and makes a block, then it’s all for not,”
“Then you go back and you say, ‘Man, if I just would have been lower. If I would have locked in on that play, if I really would have treated it like, man, everybody is watching, and we’re going to lose this game if I don’t block this guy.
“If you really treat that way, then it wouldn’t happen. We’re not going to let that happen here.”
Reluctantly, Campbell then shared with the media a time when he failed to get in front of
Campbell said there was a penalty on the play. That gave his team another opportunity at the try. But clearly, he learned his lesson.
NFL’s Rampant Field Goal Block Pace
Last season, there were 18 blocked field goals in the NFL. Through not even four weeks of the 2025 season, there have already been 12 blocks.
The 12 blocks in 2025 include both field goals and extra points. But still, blocked kicks have become a major issue for field goal teams.
Even if the current pace doesn’t continue, the league is going to see these blocks influence division races and playoff spots. Blocked field goals have already cost teams in the first month of this season.
But again, Campbell sounds determined not to let a field goal block hurt his team.
Dont’e Thornton Jr.’s usage has sparked debate, with fans demanding better deployment of the talented player.
Despite their Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears, the Las Vegas Raiders did get Ashton Jeanty going. The rookie running back recorded 138 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards for three total touchdowns.
Now that Jeanty has the confidence, the attention turns to another rookie that the Silver and Black need to jumpstart, and that’s Dont’e Thornton Jr. So far this season, Thornton Jr. has recorded five receptions and 94 receiving yards with zero touchdowns.
After the loss to Chicago, CBS Sports NFL analyst Ran Carthon discussed how little the Raiders have been involving Thornton Jr. in their game plan.
“Now that Ashton has established himself as a runner through this week, I think the threat of the running game becomes a real one, and people will pay more attention and give more action, which will help them complete the ball down the field,
“But no one stretches the field, no one takes shots downfield, and you have a young rookie receiver in Dont’e Thornton who is a vertical guy—a go-get-it, vertical type.
“Yet he hasn’t been used much downfield to create those explosive plays. Hopefully, that’s what’s coming next in this Chip Kelly offense: The play-action threat to get the safeties to hold, and then you have a shot downfield because Geno can still throw deep, but Geno has to be better.”
Raiders Star Vows to Improve
“No. 1, take care of the ball, not throwing interceptions,“ Smith told the media after the loss. “That’s the simplest way I can put it to you. First
“I felt like I was feeling good about what I was seeing. The game plan was great. Guys fought their tails off. We deserve to get this win and I let those guys down. So, there’s a lot of things I’m going to have to fix within myself. That’s the reality.”
Geno Smith Shares Emotions After Raiders Loss
Smith also acknowledged feeling anger and frustration with his own performance. The Raiders had opportunities to win against the Los Angeles Chargers and Bears, but turnovers ultimately swung the games in the opponents’ favor.
“More so just anger. You know, I know I got to be better. And, for me as a player, like I said, man, I pride myself on my process and the way
“You saw how Ashton ran the ball today; you saw how the line played today. You saw how our guys were getting open and how our defense played inspired. How our crowd was electric throughout the game, you know, and if you look at the difference in the game, it was the turnovers, you know, so I mean, simply put, I got to be better.”
