Lions' Jack Campbell Facing Potential NFL Punishment Following Facemask Incident in Loss to Packers

“A costly mistake on Thanksgiving could lead to NFL discipline for Jack Campbell, as the Lions linebacker braces for a potential fine after a facemask penalty during Detroit’s loss to Green Bay.”

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell had an active role in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Green Bay Packers, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win for his team, which fell 31-24. The loss dropped the Lions to a 7-5 record, putting them third in the NFC North, behind the Packers and the

Chicago Bears. However, Campbell may now face consequences for an on-field incident that occurred late in the third quarter, which could lead to punishment from the NFL.

In the third quarter, with just under three minutes left in a tight game, Campbell was flagged for a

facemask penalty after grabbing the facemask of Packers tight end Josh Whyle. The referees immediately penalized the Lions linebacker, resulting in a 15-yard penalty from the Lions' 6-yard line. A few snaps later,

Jordan Love connected with Dontayvion Wicks for a touchdown pass, giving the Packers a 31-21 lead that they would not relinquish.

The incident could now lead to a fine for Campbell. According to the NFL’s rulebook, a facemask penalty occurs when a player grasps an opponent’s facemask or helmet opening and fails to release it immediately. The NFL’s officiating department will review the play, and Campbell could face a fine of

$11,593 for a first offense. It’s also worth noting that Campbell has already been fined in the past. In 2023, he was penalized $14,871 for roughing the passer against the

Las Vegas Raiders.

Jack Campbell: “I know I made a mistake, and I’m prepared for whatever the league decides. I’ve always tried to play with intensity, but I need to be smarter in situations like that. My focus is on helping this team bounce back and move forward.”

– Jack Campbell, Linebacker, Detroit Lions

The penalty was a tough blow for the Lions, who were already struggling to keep up with the Packers. Campbell, who had been a standout on defense all season, with

4 sacks, 117 combined tackles, and 8 tackles for loss through 12 games, was visibly frustrated after the penalty. His overall performance on the day—logging 9 combined tackles
—was overshadowed by the costly mistake.

The Lions, now facing mounting pressure to secure a playoff spot, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for another Thursday night game

against the Dallas Cowboys. With a tough schedule ahead, including a game against a highly competitive team like the Cowboys, Campbell will need to focus on his performance and avoid any further penalties. His upcoming game will be watched closely, especially with the league’s decision on the potential fine looming.

The Golden Knights run into some bad luck against the Montreal Canadiens

If you thought the funky stretch was about to end for the Vegas Golden Knights, well, I've got some bad news for you, mate.

The Montreal Canadiens looked like they were ready to play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. While the Golden Knights peppered Sam Montembeault with shots all day, the Canadiens held the line. The result? A 4-1 loss to Montreal.

Montembeault stopped 30 of 31 shots, frustrating an aggressive Golden Knights team throughout the night. That included a stellar first period where he stopped all 11 shots. The win bumps Montreal to 13-7-3, giving them 29 points. The loss drops Vegas to 10-6-8, leaving them at 28 points.

Eventually, some things must change for the Vegas Golden Knights. Sure, getting the loser point numerous times is nice on the surface. It provides you with a nice cushion in case you break out. But that's the thing with Vegas. You can only do it so many times before games like Friday's contest happen.

When is that breakout going to happen? Who will step up and take the reins for the Golden Knights? Are we still waiting for Mitch Marner to break his goalless slump? Will it be someone other than a defenseman to make the magic happen?

Let's be honest. The Golden Knights are an enigmatic mess right now. That's been the story since "Opening Knight," where they blew a 5-3 lead to lose in the shootout. But let's dive into the postgame takeaways and see the good and the bad. What went down for the Golden Knights on Friday.

The Golden Knights get more aggressive offensively against the Montreal Canadiens

The Vegas Golden Knights started Friday's game on a more positive note, outshooting the Canadiens in the first period, 11-6. They've turned up the pressure despite Montreal holding a 1-0 lead from a 6-on-5 goal. The majority of that onslaught came from Jack Eichel (three shots in the first, seven overall) and Tomas Hertl (four shots in the first, seven overall).

The problem? They haven't buried many chances. You can attribute that to a strong showing from Sam Montembeault, who stopped 30 of 31 shots. Still, Mark Stone has shown that he's an absolute boon in the offense with a goal.

One can say that having the Captain return to the team has been an overall net positive for Vegas. Suddenly, the Golden Knights are crashing the net more and finding better looks. It's just that nothing was turning up for the Golden Knights all night. If they can start banking on solid opportunities, they'll offset numerous problems.

Montreal's weapons overwhelm the Golden Knights

It wasn't just the 6-on-5 goal from Zachary Bolduc that hurt the Golden Knights. It was also Cole Caufield turning a bad angle into a massive advantage, getting Montreal's second goal. It's been the story for the Canadiens throughout the season, getting help from their top scorers.

Entering Friday's game, the Canadiens had the third-best attack in the league (3.45 goals per game). When you have big names like Caufield burying opportunities, that's problematic.

It's especially rough when you're without your top goaltender. While Akira Schmid has had nice moments for Vegas, the netminder wasn't on his best game on Friday. If that's the case throughout the season, it'll be tough for Vegas to dig themselves out of deficits, especially when the goalie isn't clicking.

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