What’s next for the Detroit Lions now that the divisional round opponent is determined?

How nice is it to know who the opponent is instead of having to wait for Monday night’s result between Los Angeles and Minnesota?

Campbell said he took notes as best he could during the broadcast of Washington’s game against Tampa Bay and when the Commanders pulled off an uneventful victory, Campbell, the coaches and support staff were able to really start working.

“Really, it was full blast today,” Campbell said. “Get there early and get started. We’ll have plenty of time to game plan, get a really good idea of ​​who this opponent is and put a really good plan in place.”

Speaking of opponents, how fun is it to game plan for an opponent the Lions haven’t faced this season?

The Lions and Commanders did not play each other in the regular season this year. Of the four potential opponents the Lions could have hosted in the divisional round – Washington, Green Bay, LA Rams and Minnesota – Washington was the only one they did not face in 2024.

“There’s a certain level of enthusiasm,” Campbell said. “Part of that is you see another team that you’ve played against twice, let’s say, you know each other. You know them, they know you and it’s a different level of game planning because you are in this third level of chess.

“Whereas the opponent you haven’t faced yet, it’s exciting too because you don’t know them entirely, and they don’t know you entirely. You just know each other from afar. So, know your type of starting from scratch. It’s really exciting too.”

Campbell said that regardless of how it would have worked, it would have been cool and fun, but he especially likes this match because it’s fresh. He likes new things. Campbell knows Washington head coach Dan Quinn a bit. When Quinn coached in Atlanta and Campbell coached in New Orleans, they often crossed paths as division opponents.