With two Super Bowl victories in the past four seasons, the Chiefs are well on their way to building a dynasty.
Indeed, with the great Patrick Mahomes under center, Kansas City boasts a gaudy 64–16 regular-season record. Opponents know they need to play to their potential—and probably take a few chances—to beat the Chiefs head-to-head.
Meantime, the Lions are a trendy pick to win the NFC North this season under third-year coach Dan Campbell.
So perhaps it shouldn’t have been a total surprise that Campbell reached into his bag of tricks early in Thursday’s Lions-Chiefs season opener in Kansas City. With the Lions facing fourth-and-2 from their own 17-yard line, Campbell made the bold decision to go for it.
Detroit’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin subsequently took the direct snap and ran for three yards and a first down. The Lions ultimately drove the length of the field and scored the game’s opening touchdown on their way to a 21-20 win.
NFL fans and observers loved the gutsy call.
That's us.#DETvsKC | 🎥 NBC pic.twitter.com/386ns95mIF
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 8, 2023
Gutsy call, you have to get it but that’s how you turn a franchise around
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) September 8, 2023
Dan Campbell: Onions
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 8, 2023
DAN CAMPBELL, NEVER CHANGE
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) September 8, 2023
dan campbell doing stuff I wouldn’t even try in madden
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) September 8, 2023
Dan Campbell faked a punt from inside his own 20 yard line against the reigning Super Bowl Champ Kansas City Chiefs. He’s got MASSIVE GONADS.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 8, 2023
Dan Campbell completely changed this game with that fake punt call. Chiefs were going to get the ball in good field position in a 0-0 game, now the Lions lead 7-0.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 8, 2023
fake punt at the 17-yard line to start the year pic.twitter.com/dbtFP0hp9g
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 8, 2023
Dan Campbell calling a fake punt from his own 17-yard line is GUTSY. Holy cow. pic.twitter.com/Je9Lgo9FtO
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2023
I think we can say the fake punt was a strong call.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) September 8, 2023
Fake punt from his own 17 on the 2nd drive of the season. Ladies and gentlemen, that's Dan Campbell biting a kneecap.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 8, 2023
The call by Campbell marked the first time since the 2019 season that an NFL team attempted a fake punt inside its own 20-yard line, per NBC’s Mike Tirico. In that instance, the Ravens successfully ran a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from their own 11-yard line against the Steelers on Dec. 29, 2019.
