The battle of Dans was definitely an interesting one to unfold. One is headed for its first NFC title game in 33 years. And the other has to feel the pain of heartbreak. After years and years of mediocrity, the Lions finally looked like a team ready to bring their first Super Bowl home. But it just wasn’t meant to be, as Lions fans were left dejected seeing their team’s devasting playoff exit. Yes, that loss did leave a painful taste in the mouths of the Lions Nation. However, Dan Campbell’s wife, Holly, is fortunate enough to find some happiness with her personal milestone.

On Monday morning, Holly shared a few snaps on her Instagram celebrating her 50th birthday: “50!!!🫣 Thank you, @carrie.y.spielman, for making the suite special!! #bignumber #happybirthdaytome 💙💙💙” Well, in those posts, she was captured cutting a Lions-themed blue cake with footballs on it. She even shared a video of herself blowing the candles from Ford Field. At that time, Holly was jumping in jubilation as she welcomed 50. However, those celebrations didn’t last for long.

After the Lions game on Sunday morning, Holly was simply heartbroken, having witnessed her beloved Lions season come to an end. On her Instagram, Holly wrote an emotional message summing up her reaction to the loss: “It hurts. This season was a dream, and nobody wanted it to end. We all wanted more. Detroit deserved more. We’ll be back, better and stronger but today…it just hurts💙 #onepride” See, anyone who has watched the Lions this season wouldn’t disagree that they probably deserved more. They were coming off a bye week after capturing the NFC’s No.1 seed through a 15-win regular season, their most in the franchise’s 95-year history.

But they just couldn’t tame the sixth-seeded Commanders, handed Detroit heartbreak with a 45-31 win. And this loss was so upsetting for the Lions that it didn’t just affect Holly. It also equally left her husband, Dan Campbell, teary at his post-game conference.

Dan Campbell couldn’t process the Lions’ playoff exit

Things were going well for the Lions before the Commanders’ game. Campbell’s wife, Holly, was in a good spirit when the Lions still hadn’t clinched the NFC’s No.1 seed. She kept on making Game of Thrones references on Instagram stories prior to facing the Vikings: “If we don’t take the North. We’ll never be safe. I want you to help me, but I’ll do it myself if I have to.” It showed how hyped she was before the Vikings game that helped the Lions secure the NFC’s No.1 seed. Like at one time, before Dan Campbell arrived at Motor City, the Lions had never won the NFC North title. However, Campbell led them to consecutive NFC North division titles for the first time in their storied history.

So, everything hinted toward a Lions’ long-overdue Super Bowl trip. But as they say, “never celebrate too early” until the work is finished. And the Lions, for one, were the victims of taking the NFL lightly. As Dan Campbell just couldn’t process the loss he suffered at the hands of Washington: “It just hurts to lose, man. And I don’t care if you’re the seven seed, six seed, five seed, one seed, because I’ve lost at all of them damn near and it stings. And it hurts…it hurts.”

Campbell’s face was red, his head was down, and he couldn’t even look into the reporters’ eyes for a minute. Tears slipped through his eyes, showing how that defeat took a toll on him. So, this shows no matter whether you are the sixth seed or the first. On the day, you are just another looking for a victory. And on Saturday, the Commanders were the ones who had more hunger for success in their bellies.