The Detroit Lions haven’t seen a field goal block impact one of their games this season. But Lions head coach Dan Campbell has certainly taken notice of the field goal and extra points blocked around the league.
On September 21 in Week 3, there were four blocked field goals, all of which happened in the fourth quarter. That was the most field goal blocks on a single day in the NFL since 1991.
There was another field goal blocked in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers –Minnesota Vikings matchup. On Sunday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys blocked an extra point.
Although it’s not his team giving up the blocked kicks, Campbell suggested Monday that seeing those attempts blocked gives him anxiety.
“I do [appreciate the block], but I hate watching [it]. I hate it,” Campbell said to reporters Monday while smiling. “Because I can put myself in the shoes of the field goal protection team.
“You can appreciate the guys who go for the blocks, but most of the time, it’s the protection — most of the time. Man, is it your own doing? But when I see them, I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ To lose that way, that’s tough.”
The Los Angeles Rams had a chance to kick the game-winning field goal in the final seconds against the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 3. But the attempt was blocked, which sealed the win for Philadelphia.
On Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers not only lost an extra point with a block, the Cowboys returned the try for a two-point conversion. That game ended in a 40-40 tie.
Campbell, though, sounds like a man on a mission not to allow blocked kicks be an issue for the Lions.
Dan Campbell Addresses the NFL’s Blocked Kick Pandemic
NFL coaches always try to find lessons to teach their players. Although a blocked field goal or extra point has yet to hurt the Lions, Campbell sees the rise in blocks as a warning of sorts.
“It’s a reminder to how important it is and how important special teams [are]. You battle your tail off for three hours and that one time you didn’t quite take that right step, or your pad level wasn’t good or you lunged or you didn’t and you’re too high. And the guy runs through and makes a block, then it’s all for not,” said Campbell.
“Then you go back and you say, ‘Man, if I just would have been lower. If I would have locked in on that play, if I really would have treated it like, man, everybody is watching, and we’re going to lose this game if I don’t block this guy.
“If you really treat that way, then it wouldn’t happen. We’re not going to let that happen here.”
Reluctantly, Campbell then shared with the media a time when he failed to get in front of Julius Peppers on the field goal block team. Peppers nearly blocked the attempt, which Campbell’s team missed.
Campbell said there was a penalty on the play. That gave his team another opportunity at the try. But clearly, he learned his lesson.
NFL’s Rampant Field Goal Block Pace
Last season, there were 18 blocked field goals in the NFL. Through not even four weeks of the 2025 season, there have already been 12 blocks.
The 12 blocks in 2025 include both field goals and extra points. But still, blocked kicks have become a major issue for field goal teams.
Even if the current pace doesn’t continue, the league is going to see these blocks influence division races and playoff spots. Blocked field goals have already cost teams in the first month of this season.
But again, Campbell sounds determined not to let a field goal block hurt his team.
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