“Long season,” rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold muttered, summing up the Detroit Lions’ crushing 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders. The kind of loss that leaves you staring at the ceiling, replaying every misstep. Expectations were sky-high heading into the playoffs, but missed opportunities sealed their fate—and gave Washington the keys to an upset.

Arnold didn’t hold back when revisiting the game. “We beat ourselves,” he said bluntly, frustration still raw. “They didn’t do anything special. If we played them today, would we win? Yesterday, they just had more energy than us. Simple as that.”

For a rookie to speak so bluntly after such a tough loss? That’s some serious competitive fire—though it might have raised a few eyebrows in the locker room. Still, you can’t argue with the season Terrion Arnold put together. The guy started 15 games, racked up 56 tackles, and knocked down 10 passes. He’s been a huge piece of Detroit’s defense this year. Sure, no ring this time around, but if you’re looking for a bright spot, Arnold’s looking like a future cornerstone for this team.

Before his storied NFL debut, Arnold had an All-American campaign at Alabama and 63 tackles, 5 interceptions, and a First-Team All-American season as a senior. Now that he is a Major Leaguer, he develops like a blockbuster’s rookie hero. Though it did result in the playoff defeat, here’s what we do know: Arnold’s tale is just beginning, and this is not his last, but what of Campbell’s roar?

The lions’ roar was shushed

Dan Campbell became very emotional during his postgame press conference after the Lions loss. When asked about all the things they’d been through, one could tell it had been heavy. “Listen, you can’t ask for anything better. To be able to have the division and the one seed on the line back at home.” You could tell this season was something important to him and the guys, not the game but all that they’ve given up to get there. Not even a day back his locker room speech was echoing in our hearts with our eyes filled with tears.

Campbell got emotional in his postgame press conference following the Lions’ loss.

Detroit Lions fought well and could not come out of their mistakes in an NFC Divisional Round thriller. Jared Goff threw for 275 yards, 22 of 35 passing (two touchdowns), but four interceptions cost. Jahmyr Gibbs ran 22 times for 175 yards and a touchdown with glimpses of the god-like. Sam LaPorta had been the consistent catcher with 6 for 80 yards and a TD, and Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 7 for 90 yards. But the defense faltered as they gave up 481 yards of total offense and didn’t put pressure on the Commander’s run game.

“It hurts, but you have to get up, body’s beat to s—-,” Campbell said while in tears. “You know, mentally stay like that and do those things, man,” when they had it on them. Victory Sunday for one, and a heartbreaking wave of tears for the other.

The Lions, in the second half, didn’t find their rhythm. It was a bittersweet tale for the Lions. “It’s hard, you know, when you lose these games, man, and I don’t care if you are the 7th seed, 6th seed, 5 seed, 1 seed because I have lost them all, and it stings. It hurts,” Especially for Dan Campbell.

They didn’t get their share after a great regular season, and they had a terrible time. But, among all the ifs and buts, the Lions could at least feel fortunate that Dan Campbell isn’t going anywhere. He remains the face of Detroit, having made them relevant again. Before the last two seasons, the Lions had never won the NFC North. And now look at them—they simply dominated the division. Lions side under Campbell has racked up 564 points in the last two seasons and has had consecutive double-digit winning seasons. So, we get the tears, but Campbell, you’re definitely ‘the guy’ and will keep being so!