Chuck the Freak Talks Incredible Detroit Lions Season & NFL Trends

As a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, I really thought I had seen everything. We've seen games we were winning by tons of points go down in landmark losses, and we've seen awesome comebacks from our teams. But, the Lions pulled off a riveting comeback win on Sunday (Nov. 18), and nobody saw it coming. It's all part of an incredible Detroit Lions 2023 season.

The team played a wild, riveting final 3 minutes of NFL football against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. In the end, the Lions battled it out to land the division win, 31-26. Now, the Lions are 8-2 for the first time since the 1960s.

With just over four minutes left on the clock, many, if not all, Detroit Lions fans had given up. The Bears kicked a field goal to bring their lead up to 26–14 over Detroit. But, never count Detroit out. We're always the underdogs, in more ways that one. And, we also, somehow, pull off the impossible. The Lions came back to win it all, 31-26, and the Bears were left dumbfounded.

"Chuck the Freak" is pure radio royalty. You hear him on "Dave & Chuck the Freak" in the mornings, and he's just a great dude. Chuck is on "The Squad with Anne Erickson" today to talk about what it feels like to be behind this Detroit Lions team. He's a lifelong Lions fan, just like me and just like many of you. He also got super passionate during the Lions vs. Bears game yesterday, so we have a lot to talk about. We'll also get into general NFL trends. Which teams does he think will make it to the Super Bowl? Does he think the Lions would stand a chance against the Eagles in a NFC division championship? Let's get into it. Listen to "The Squad with Anne Erickson" below, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Reach out to Anne here, find Chuck here and here's the Thanksgiving NFL schedule.

Dan Campbell is a likeable dude. He is also always saying something that make you either feel good or go, "Heh? What the heck?" I mean that in the best possible way.

I've put together a list of 10 totally hilarious things Dan Campbell has said during his few years with the Detroit Lions so far. Some of these have me scratching my head, while others just have me rolling in laughter. Dan, we love you! I hope for more great quotes this season.

Listen to the latest episode of "The Squad with Anne Erickson" below for some hot takes on the NFL Draft and what it means to the Detroit Lions. Reach out to me and give me your take on the Detroit Lions on social media here. Go Lions!

This quote he said back before the Lions' open practice at Ford field in 2022. "We are fricking starving … so the hyenas better get out of the way." Via Dave Birkett.

Dan Campbell wanted a "pet lion" at practice. OMgosh.

Appearing on the "Pardon My Take" Podcast, Campbell said he asked for a pet lion at practice.

"I'll tell you what I would really love to do, just in general," he said. "I've talked to (Lions owner) Sheila (Ford Hamp) about this. I don't think we're going to be able to do it, but I would love to literally just have a pet lion. Just a legit pet lion on a chain — a big-a** chain. And he just, he really is my pet. We just walk around the building, we go out to practice, we're in 7-on-7, we're behind the kicker when he's kicking. We're just … there we are."

I'm all for a good analogy. But this one is a bit much for me. But, hey, I'm not a football player. Talk the talk, and walk the walk, right? Here's Dan Campbell's toilet paper pep talk. The quote is from July 2, 2021, talking about practice in a press conference via Michael Silver.

"I told them, honestly, Day 1, I said, 'Look, I'm not carrying your toilet paper around. I'm not gonna wipe your butt. You're gonna wipe your own butt. You handle it and I'll treat you like men until you prove otherwise."

Who doesn't remember the praying mantis comment? Dan Campbell said regarding Josh Reynolds, "He’s slippery man. I call him the praying mantis. He’s the spider of death. There’s something about him. Fricking serpent." This is via Dave Birkett.

I don't get this quote at all. But, hey, it's working, so keep these quotes coming, Dan!

"We'll tread water as long as it takes to f***ing bury you." This was said in August 2022 via Tyler Dunne.

Here's another one I don't get. It's from "Hard Knocks" in 2022. "It doesn't matter if you have one a**-cheek and three toes, I will beat your a**." Okay.

"I swear to God, I'm not a lunatic." This was another quote from "Hard Knocks." Dan, honestly, anyone who is going to head up the Detroit Lions and shoot for the Super Bowl has got to be a lunatic- the best kind. It's okay. Embrace it.

Here's another quote from "Hard Knocks." Campbell says, "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no light. There's a song Metallica has, 'No Leaf Clover,' and it says, 'Man, when it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it's just a freight train coming your way.'" I'm not crying, you are.

"You grade them off the tape, you don’t grade off somebody out here in pajamas," via The Sporting News. This is in regards to not liking the often misleading evaluations from the Scouting Combine.

This one wasn't just a quote, but imagry, too. It went viral last year. It's the moment that Dan Campbell went on "Hard Knocks" and shook out a pair of pants. "This last bit of losing has got to get outta here." Via the NFL.