Dan Campbell warns Detroit Lions must be ready for Josh Allen, versatile Bills offense ahead of TNF

ALLEN Park, Mich. – Dan Campbell knows the Detroit Lions will have plenty to deal with when they travel to Buffalo to face the Bills on Thursday Night Football.

The Bills’ offense can line up in multiple formations, lean on a versatile tight end group, and pressure a defense in a variety of ways.

For Campbell, the key is keeping the Lions from becoming predictable.

“They’re good in 11. They’re good in 12,” Campbell said. “They’ve got personnel. They’ve got a quarterback who makes it go, and they’ve got a coaching staff that can find those little nuggets and the mismatches.”

Campbell said Buffalo’s use of three tight ends gives the offense another layer of versatility.

He described one as a strong blocker, another as a matchup problem in the passing game, and the third as a player who can do just about everything.

“You’ve got three guys, and so you can live in that personnel group a little bit, and it gives you a lot of options,” Campbell said.

Defensively, Campbell said the Lions have spent much of the offseason and training camp preparing to handle heavy personnel without becoming too predictable.

The Bills can use those formations to run the ball, create play-action opportunities, and then spread the field. Campbell said the Lions must be prepared for all of it.

“We’ve spent a lot of time just really through the offseason and training camp trying not to be sitting ducks,” Campbell said. “To eliminate the run and heavy, but also not to be so predictable that people feel like they get a beat on you.”

At the center of Buffalo’s offense is Josh Allen, Campbell said, noting the variety of plays available depending on the defensive look.

“Ultimately, I don’t care what they throw at us, the quarterback is the key to all of this,” Campbell said. “If we don’t make him go the long, hard way every time, it can get very difficult.”

The Lions are also preparing for a potentially hostile environment.

The Buffalo Bills home opener will be played in their new stadium, giving Campbell’s players a new setting to experience on the road.

Campbell encouraged his younger players to embrace the atmosphere rather than allow it to become a distraction.

“Keep your composure,” Campbell said. “Don’t forget, it’s one play at a time, and stay focused on your job and keep your head about you. But, man, enjoy it.”

Campbell recalled playing in Philadelphia’s old Veterans Stadium during his NFL career, describing it as the first truly hostile environment he experienced as a professional player.

He also remembered playing at LSU’s Tiger Stadium during his college career.

“You don’t forget them,” Campbell said of those environments. “As long as you keep your head about you and really absorb that energy and then send it the other way and have fun with it, it’s special.”

Campbell also provided an update on defensive back Christian Izien, who could potentially play on Thursday.

Campbell said Izien has continued to participate in game preparation and took reps in practice.

He described the player as trending in the right direction but said he was not completely cleared.

“I’d say he’s trending the right way, but not totally there yet,” Campbell said. “I think there’s a good chance.”

Campbell also addressed Buffalo’s tight ends and pointed to the New Orleans game as an example of the challenges they can create.

He said the Lions were prepared for the Saints to use their tight ends heavily and did not believe that approach was what caused Detroit’s defensive problems.

Buffalo, Campbell said, presents similar challenges because of the flexibility its personnel provides.

The Lions will need to account for the run, play-action passes, quarterback runs, and formations that can change the picture before the snap.

“There’s a lot,” Campbell said. “But I would say we’ve spent a lot of time just really through the offseason and training camp of trying not to be sitting ducks.”

Campbell was also asked whether the Lions’ increased salary-cap flexibility following Amon-Ra St. Brown’s contract restructure could lead to a significant addition before the trade deadline.

Campbell did not indicate that the team plans to make a major move.

“I don’t see that,” Campbell said. “It gives us options, whether that be our own guys or if you know, it just gives us flexibility here before the season starts because there’s a lot that can happen.”

Campbell also praised St. Brown’s consistency and competitiveness, pointing to a touchdown catch against the Saints in which St. Brown took a hit.

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