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Caldwell Compares Looking Ahead To Playoffs To Texting And Driving

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

ALLEN PARK (CBS DETROIT) - With the Detroit Lions at 10-4 and tied for first place in the NFC North, head coach Jim Caldwell has taken more than a few questions that begin, "We know you won't look ahead to the playoffs, but ... "

The coach insists he keeps his focus on the next game, and he considers it imperative that players do likewise. He acknowledges the temptation to look ahead but said he and the staff encourage the players daily to fight that instinct.

Given Detroit's struggles over the years, a number of players in the organization have little or no experience in the postseason. In many years, handling success has not been an issue the Lions have had to discuss late in the season. This year they do.

"A lot of these players haven't made it to the playoffs " was the preface of one question, and Caldwell quickly interrupted, "And they might not go if they don't start focusing in on this next game, either."

Video the team website posted of Caldwell's address after Sunday's victory against the Minnesota Vikings showed the coach delivering to players the same message he continues to offer to media.

"People are going to start just talking about what place you're in and all that kind of stuff," Caldwell said to the team. "Pay no attention to it. We've got one thing in mind. What's that?"

The players responded, "Bears."

"That's it," Caldwell confirmed. "We've got to go there, we're going to play a team that's going to be hungry, and we've got to make certain that we're on top of them."

For players to indulge in a little playoff daydream here and there might not seem like the end of the world, but Caldwell takes it seriously, so much so he compared looking ahead to texting and driving.

"You can't have your focus and attention on two things at one time," Caldwell said. "We know all of the problems and issues that we've had in terms of on the road with that kind of issue. It's no different. Obviously I'm not talking about the same dire consequences, but I'm talking about just the example of distorted vision."

The Lions play their final two regular season games on the road against division foes - the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers.

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