ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Jack Campbell fought back tears while reflecting on the Detroit Lions' 41-31 Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.
The All-Pro linebacker shouldered the blame for the team's poor defensive effort in an emotional postgame interview inside the visitors locker room of the new Highmark Stadium, taking full accountability in defeat.
"I'm gonna be honest with you. Hats off to them; played terrible. It starts with me, and I feel like it's on me. I gotta be better," Campbell said. "And I ain't got no other thing to do but look in the mirror and be better so that's really where it starts. It starts with us, but yeah, they did a good job."
Campbell finished with six tackles and a QB hit against the Bills, but Detroit's defense has allowed at least 30 points in back-to-back games, falling to 1-1 in the young season.
This marks the Lions' first time allowing at least 30 points in both of the first two games of a regular season since 2021 -- which were the first two games of the Dan Campbell era in Detroit.
The secondary continued to struggle against Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who accounted for five total touchdowns. Detroit has allowed 63 first downs this season, tied with the 1985 Colts for second-most through two games behind the 2018 Chiefs (66), according to ESPN Research.
The Lions also have allowed 30-plus points in five of their past eight regular-season games, dating back to last year.
On Thursday night, Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson admitted that they "were not good enough." However, he expressed certainty that change is coming.
"Things will definitely be changed," said Hutchinson, who logged three tackles, a sack and two QB hits. "I don't know what that is necessarily, but I know there will be changes. We're not going to keep banging our head against the wall."
Jack Campbell refused to blame the team's poor defensive effort, during which they fell behind 21-0 in the first half, on the coaching, the short week or anything other than himself. He made no excuses while vowing to come back better next week against the New York Jets at home.
"Every time I lace up my cleats, I'm going 100%. Yeah, put it on me," he said, his voice cracking. "I played terrible. I've gotta be better. Especially for the offense and for all these guys in the locker room."
The Lions were no match for Buffalo in the first half, as neither the defense nor the offense could find a groove. By halftime, Detroit trailed 27-10, and Dan Campbell was heated entering the locker room. He couldn't contain his emotions on live television, expressing that "the little s--- is killing us."
Thursday's game also marked the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium, and the Lions exited with a humbling experience.
"It wasn't good enough. That's not good enough, but like I told the guys, 'At least you know now.' At least we know what it looks like now," Dan Campbell said. "It's a good team, playing good football, and now we know after two games, we kind of know who we are. We're figuring some stuff out."