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Tag: Jared Goff

  • Detroit Lions Urged to Trade for QB Anthony Richardson

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    The Detroit Lions are still searching for clarity behind Jared Goff, and one growing idea around the league suggests the answer may not come from the draft at all.

    According to Mike Payton of A to Z Sports, the Lions should seriously consider trading for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, a move Payton describes as both low risk and high reward for a team firmly in its Super Bowl window.

    Why the timing suddenly makes sense

    The Lions entered the 2026 offseason without a long-term backup quarterback plan. While the initial thought was to look toward the draft, that path has become far less appealing.

    Several of the top quarterback prospects elected to return to college, and the remaining options are either older or viewed as developmental projects. For a Lions team that wants optionality, not a forced decision, this is a problem.

    That’s where Richardson enters the conversation.

    The Lions as a reset destination

    Richardson, the former fourth overall pick, is still just 23 years old, yet already labeled by some as a disappointment due to inconsistent development in Indianapolis. Payton argues that label says more about the situation than the player.

    Recent NFL history has shown that quarterbacks often thrive only after landing in the right environment. Jared Goff himself is the Lions’ best example. Other recent turnarounds: Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Mac Jones, and Malik Willis reinforce the same lesson.

    Detroit offers something Indianapolis never truly committed to: patience and infrastructure.

    A quarterback-friendly ecosystem

    If Richardson were traded to Detroit, he wouldn’t be asked to save the franchise. He’d be asked to learn.

    The Lions have quietly assembled one of the league’s most experienced quarterback development environments, including:

    • Dan Campbell, a former NFL tight end with a strong player-first approach
    • Drew Petzing, a former quarterbacks coach
    • Mike Kafka, a former NFL quarterback and longtime QB developer
    • Mark Brunell, a Pro Bowl quarterback who helped revive Goff’s career
    • Marques Tuiasosopo and Bruce Gradkowski, both former NFL quarterbacks
    • Jared Goff, a proven veteran who understands quarterback reinvention firsthand

    That collective experience gives Richardson something few young quarterbacks ever receive: multiple perspectives with proof of concept.

    The cost makes it even more appealing

    Perhaps the strongest argument in Payton’s favor is the price tag.

    Rather than investing premium draft capital in a quarterback who may never see the field, the Lions could reportedly acquire Richardson for as little as a 2026 sixth-round pick. That kind of move protects Detroit from downside while preserving flexibility.

    If Richardson develops, the Lions may have found their quarterback of the future without sacrificing premium assets. If he doesn’t, the cost is negligible.

    Why Detroit should take the swing

    The Lions are no longer rebuilding. They’re refining.

    A move like this wouldn’t signal panic, it would signal foresight. Detroit can afford to take calculated bets, especially when the reward could be significant and the risk minimal.

    As Payton suggests, if Anthony Richardson can’t succeed in Detroit’s quarterback-friendly environment, it likely won’t be because the Lions failed to give him every possible chance.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • How Drew Petzing Could Elevate Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in 2026

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    When the Detroit Lions hired Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, they weren’t just looking for a play-caller.

    They were looking for someone who sees the game the way quarterbacks do, the way defenses do, and most importantly, the way elite playmakers want their coordinator to see it.

    Petzing’s calling card around the league is simple but dangerous: identify where defenses are vulnerable and relentlessly force them to defend those weak spots. With players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta already thriving in Detroit, that philosophy could push the Lions offense to another level in 2026.

    A Coordinator Who Sees Holes Others Miss

    One thing that stands out when former players talk about Petzing is how deeply he understands defensive structure. He doesn’t just teach concepts, he teaches why defenses behave the way they do.

    Kirk Cousins, who worked with Petzing in Minnesota, once described how Petzing reframed a coverage Cousins hated seeing.

    “I had a conversation once about a coverage that I don’t like to face that I always said was really, really tough,” Cousins said via the Detroit Free Press. “He said, ‘Kirk, it may be tough but it’s loose.’”

    That phrase stuck because it perfectly captures Petzing’s approach. No coverage is airtight. Every defense leaves space somewhere. The job of the offense is to find it before the ball is snapped and punish it after.

    Petzing’s rise through the coaching ranks wasn’t fast or glamorous, and that’s part of what shaped his perspective. In an exclusive interview with the Detroit Free Press, Petzing explained how close he once came to a completely different career path.

    “All these people, their interest and their desire to do these things is not mine,” Petzing told the Free Press, reflecting on a summer spent in a business program. “I can do it, but I didn’t love it, I didn’t enjoy it… if I can make this happen, I need to make this happen cause this is 100 times better than whatever that was.”

    That clarity shows up in how he coaches. Petzing doesn’t force ideas. He builds around people. Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson believes that approach will translate seamlessly in Detroit.

    “I think what Drew does is he’s going to put his best players in a chance to showcase what they do,” Johnson said.

    That philosophy aligns perfectly with Detroit’s offensive identity.

    Why Amon-Ra St. Brown Fits This System So Well

    Amon-Ra St. Brown already wins with intelligence, leverage, and toughness. What Petzing brings is a plan to ensure those traits are constantly stressed against the defense’s weakest link.

    St. Brown’s ability to line up anywhere, read coverage on the fly, and adjust routes based on leverage makes him an ideal centerpiece for a coordinator who values matchup control. Instead of simply “feeding” him targets, Petzing’s offense is designed to force defenses into bad choices, whether that means isolating a nickel corner, dragging a linebacker into space, or manipulating safeties with formation and motion.

    That’s how volume turns into efficiency, and efficiency turns into dominance.

    Sam LaPorta Could Become the Ultimate Mismatch

    If there’s one player who stands to benefit most from Petzing’s arrival, it might be Sam LaPorta.

    Petzing has a long history working with tight ends and quarterbacks, and his Arizona offenses leaned heavily on creating favorable tight end looks. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, who flourished under Petzing, didn’t hide his excitement about what this could mean for Detroit.

    “Obviously, we had a lot of success under him,” McBride said. “So I think he’s a great coordinator and I’m excited to see what he can do with all the weapons there in Detroit.”

    LaPorta’s combination of size, speed, and awareness already makes him difficult to defend. In a system that prioritizes finding coverage stress points, he could become a weekly problem defenses simply can’t solve.

    Jared Goff Is a Natural Fit, Too

    Another important piece of this puzzle is Jared Goff. Petzing’s offenses thrive on clarity, timing, and married concepts, all things that allow Goff to play fast and confident.

    According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Goff plans to spend significant time with Petzing this offseason reshaping the Lions playbook, a familiar process that mirrors what happened when Ben Johnson first took over.

    That collaboration matters. When the quarterback and coordinator see the game through the same lens, matchup advantages show up earlier and mistakes happen less often.

    What This Means for the Lions in 2026

    Detroit doesn’t need a radical overhaul on offense. The pieces are already there.

    What Drew Petzing offers is refinement, intentionality, and a relentless focus on exploiting defensive weaknesses. With Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta at the center of that vision, the Lions offense could become even more precise, more efficient, and more difficult to defend than it has ever been.

    And if Petzing’s reputation holds true, defenses won’t just be reacting.

    They’ll be guessing.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Jared Goff Explains What Will Change Under Drew Petzing

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    Jared Goff didn’t hesitate when asked about the Detroit Lions’ decision to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator.

    Speaking during the 2026 Pro Bowl festivities, the Lions quarterback made it clear he’s fully on board, and then some, calling the move a “home run hire.”

    Goff has already done his homework, reaching out to players who have firsthand experience working with Petzing and diving into film to get a feel for what Detroit’s offense could look like moving forward.

    Goff Did His Research on Petzing

    Before Petzing ever stepped into Allen Park, Goff wanted to hear directly from people who knew him best. That included a check-in with Jacoby Brissett, who previously worked under Petzing in Arizona.

    According to Goff, the feedback couldn’t have been stronger.

    “Everyone I’ve spoken to about him prior to him being hired was glowing. In particular, quarterbacks who have played for him were glowing,” Goff said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I think the thing that excites me the most is going to be his versatility. He’s not tied to an offense.”

    That flexibility is a big deal for a Lions unit that has thrived by adapting to its personnel rather than forcing players into rigid roles.

    “We’re going to kind of run what we’re best at and what we should be doing, which, some of the stuff we’ve done the last few years, that’s worked,” Goff said.

    Getting the Ball to Everyone Is the Real Challenge

    One theme kept coming up in Goff’s comments: distribution.

    Detroit’s offense is loaded with playmakers, and Goff acknowledged that managing those touches is one of the toughest parts of the job.

    “And then I think he’s got the right personality and demeanor and teaching ability, and most importantly, his intelligence and mental dexterity, for lack of a better word, to be able to kind of handle not only the complexities of what we’re going to try to do, but, like, getting the ball to guys,” Goff said.

    “That’s the hardest part of our offense. We’ve got so many mouths to feed and being able to spread it around in an efficient way.”

    That ability to balance complexity with clarity is one of the reasons Goff believes Petzing is such a strong fit.

    Expect Some Changes — But Not a Full Overhaul

    While fans shouldn’t expect a brand-new offense overnight, Goff confirmed there will be adjustments — especially when it comes to terminology and process.

    “Not from the ground up, but it’s always a reconstruction process to some degree,” Goff explained. “Regardless of if it’s the same coordinator or not, you go back, you look at what you were good at, what you weren’t good at, how you’d like to change certain things, whether it’s verbiage or process.”

    That kind of yearly self-scout is nothing new for Detroit, but Petzing’s arrival adds a fresh perspective.

    “So, yeah, you do all that stuff with him,” Goff said.

    Early Buy-In From the Quarterback

    Goff also revealed he’s already spent significant time studying Petzing’s offense, reinforcing the idea that this wasn’t just a résumé hire — it was a football fit.

    The Lions aren’t looking to reinvent themselves. They’re looking to evolve. And judging by Goff’s enthusiasm, Petzing checks every box Detroit was searching for.

    If the quarterback’s early reaction is any indication, the Lions believe they’ve found the right mind to guide an already dangerous offense into its next phase.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • 6 Detroit Lions Make ESPN’s Top-100 MVP List for 2025

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    If you needed a reminder that the Detroit Lions’ window is still wide open, ESPN just delivered one.

    Last week, ESPN analyst Seth Walder released his list of the top 100 MVP candidates from the 2025 NFL season, ranking the players who had the biggest impact across the league. While the actual MVP race has been narrowed down to five finalists, Walder’s list offers a broader look at who truly drove success this past season.

    For Lions fans, the takeaway is pretty simple: Detroit’s core is loaded.

    Six Lions Earn MVP Consideration

    Walder included six Detroit Lions on his top-100 list, and five of them cracked the top 50. That kind of representation puts Detroit among the NFL’s elite in terms of high-end talent.

    Here’s where each Lion landed:

    • Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) — No. 17
    • Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE) — No. 22
    • Penei Sewell (RT) — No. 28
    • Jared Goff (QB) — No. 33
    • Jack Campbell (LB) — No. 50
    • Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) — No. 64

    That list alone tells the story of how Detroit is built: elite trench play, star skill-position talent, and a quarterback steady enough to keep everything humming.

    Amon-Ra St. Brown Leads the Way

    It’s no surprise that Amon-Ra St. Brown came in as Detroit’s highest-ranked player. At No. 17 overall, he once again proved he’s one of the most reliable and productive wide receivers in football. Week after week, St. Brown was the engine of the offense, making difficult catches, extending drives, and setting the tone with his physical style.

    Hutchinson and Sewell Represent the Foundation

    Right behind him were two players who embody the Lions’ identity.

    Aidan Hutchinson at No. 22 continues to establish himself as one of the league’s most disruptive edge rushers, while Penei Sewell at No. 28 remains the gold standard at right tackle. When your defensive anchor and offensive cornerstone are both viewed as MVP-level contributors, you’re doing something right.

    Goff, Campbell, and Gibbs Round Out the Core

    Jared Goff landing at No. 33 reflects the respect he’s earned league-wide. He may not always dominate headlines, but his consistency and command of the offense remain critical to Detroit’s success.

    Jack Campbell, checking in at No. 50, represents the next wave of Lions leadership on defense. His presence in the top 50 speaks volumes about how quickly he’s become a centerpiece in the middle of the field.

    And then there’s Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 64. While running backs rarely crack MVP conversations, Gibbs’ explosiveness and versatility made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the league, even in a crowded offensive ecosystem.

    The Bigger Picture for Detroit

    This list isn’t about trophies — it’s about validation.

    Six Lions earning MVP consideration reinforces what fans already know: Detroit isn’t built around one star. It’s built around a deep, balanced core capable of sustaining success year after year.

    The championship window is still open. And ESPN just backed that up with numbers.

    For a franchise that spent decades searching for relevance, seeing this many Lions in an MVP conversation — even an extended one — is a sign of how far Detroit has come… and how high the ceiling still is.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Examining How Detroit Lions Can Restructure Jared Goff’s Contract to Free Up $30 Million in Cap Space

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    The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 offseason with one glaring financial obstacle: Jared Goff’s cap hit.

    According to his current deal, Goff is scheduled to count $69.6 million against the 2026 salary cap, which is over 22 percent of the projected team total. That number is not just high; it’s roster-limiting. For a team firmly in a Super Bowl window, it’s also completely unnecessary.

    The good news? The Lions have a clear, clean path to creating massive flexibility, potentially freeing up $30–35 million in cap space with a simple restructure.

    Why 2026 Is the Pressure Point

    Goff’s 2026 contract year looks like this:

    • Base Salary: $55 million
    • Prorated Bonus: $14.6 million
    • Total Cap Hit: $69.6 million
    • Dead Money if Cut: $98.8 million (not realistic)

    Detroit is fully committed to Goff in 2026. Cutting him is impossible. Trading him would be financially brutal. The only logical move is restructuring.

    The Most Likely Solution: Salary-to-Bonus Conversion

    Brad Holmes can convert a large portion of Goff’s $55 million base salary into a signing bonus. That bonus is then prorated across the remaining years of the contract.

    Example Restructure

    Convert $40 million of Goff’s base salary into a signing bonus.

    Spread over:

    • 2026
    • 2027
    • 2028
    • Plus one void year

    Proration:
    $40M ÷ 4 = $10M per season

    New 2026 Cap Hit

    • New Base Salary: $15M
    • New Bonus Proration: $24.6M
    • New Cap Total: $39.6M

    Cap Savings:

    $30 million instantly.

    Adding Void Years for Maximum Flexibility

    If Detroit adds two void years and spreads the same $40 million over six seasons:

    $40M ÷ 6 = $6.67M annually

    New 2026 Cap Hit:

    • Base: $15M
    • Proration: $21.27M
    • Total: $36.27M

    Cap Savings:

    $33.3 million

    This is the exact financial structure used by Super Bowl contenders like Philadelphia, Kansas City, and New Orleans when they are in full championship mode.

    Why the Lions Will Almost Certainly Do This

    1. Super Bowl Window Is Open
      • Hutchinson, Gibbs, LaPorta, St. Brown, Branch, Sewell are in their primes.
      • The roster is built to win now.
    2. Goff Is Still in His Prime
      • He’ll be 32 in 2026.
      • The contract already commits Detroit long-term.
    3. Brad Holmes Prioritizes the Trenches
      • $30M in space could fund:
        • An elite EDGE rusher
        • A shutdown corner
        • A top interior defender
        • Or multiple high-impact starters
    4. The Structure Is Designed for This
      • The massive base salary exists specifically to be converted later.
      • This was a planned financial pivot point.

    Realistic Cap Outcome

    With a standard restructure and one or two void years, the Lions can:

    • Reduce Goff’s 2026 cap hit from $69.6M → $36–39M
    • Create $30–35 million in usable space
    • Maintain long-term flexibility
    • Keep the championship core intact

    Bottom Line

    Detroit does not need to choose between paying its quarterback and improving the roster.

    By converting a portion of Jared Goff’s 2026 salary into bonus and extending the proration window, the Lions can unlock over $30 million in cap space, enough to aggressively attack free agency while keeping their franchise QB and Super Bowl aspirations fully intact.

    This is not a question of if the restructure happens.
    It’s a matter of how aggressively Brad Holmes chooses to push the window open.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Pros and Cons of the Detroit Lions Hiring Zac Robinson as OC

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    As the Detroit Lions continue their search for a new offensive coordinator, one name that has surfaced is current Atlanta Falcons OC Zac Robinson. Robinson brings an intriguing mix of familiarity, modern offensive thinking, and quarterback development experience, but like any candidate, he comes with both upside and risk.

    Here’s a closer look at what hiring Robinson could mean for Detroit.

    The Pros

    Built-In Chemistry With Jared Goff

    One of the biggest selling points is Robinson’s history with Jared Goff. The two worked together with the Los Angeles Rams, including during the most productive stretch of Goff’s career. That familiarity could allow the Lions to hit the ground running with an offense tailored specifically to what Goff does best: timing routes, play-action, and rhythm passing.

    Sean McVay Coaching Tree Pedigree

    Robinson comes from the Sean McVay offensive system, one of the most influential in the NFL. That tree emphasizes motion, spacing, misdirection, and creating favorable matchups, all things the Lions already value. The philosophical fit would be seamless.

    Quarterback Development Background

    A former NFL quarterback himself, Robinson has spent much of his coaching career working directly with QBs. That could be huge not only for continuing Goff’s late-career renaissance, but also for developing any future signal-caller Detroit brings into the building.

    Actual Play-Calling Experience

    Unlike some candidates who have never run an offense, Robinson has already served as an offensive coordinator and primary play-caller in Atlanta. He wouldn’t be learning the job on the fly.

    Modern Offensive Mind

    At 39, Robinson represents the newer generation of offensive designers. Expect heavy use of motion, layered route concepts, and analytical game-planning-traits that align with where the NFL is heading.

    The Cons

    Atlanta’s Offense Was Inconsistent

    Fair or not, Robinson’s Falcons offenses were uneven. Some of that falls on quarterback and roster limitations, but results still matter. Detroit would be betting on projection rather than proven elite production.

    Not a Splash Hire

    Compared to big-name candidates like Mike McDaniel or other “offensive genius” types, Robinson doesn’t carry the same headline-grabbing appeal. The hire would feel more like a smart continuation than a bold swing.

    Comfort vs. Innovation

    While familiarity with Goff is a positive, there’s always a risk of becoming too comfortable. The Lions must decide whether they want continuity or a truly new offensive direction.

    Potential One-and-Done OC

    If Robinson thrives in Detroit, he could quickly become a head coaching candidate. That would put the Lions back in the coordinator market again, repeating the cycle they just experienced.

    Bottom Line

    Zac Robinson would be a logical, stable, and system-friendly hire for the Detroit Lions. He offers quarterback expertise, schematic continuity, and real play-calling experience. The upside is a smooth transition and sustained offensive efficiency. The downside is that he may not be the transformative, league-shifting mind fans are dreaming about.

    In short, Robinson would be a smart hire, but not necessarily a sexy one.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • 10 Quarterbacks the Detroit Lions Should Consider in the 2026 NFL Draft

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    As things stand right now, the Detroit Lions have only one quarterback under contract for the 2026 season: Jared Goff. And make no mistake, Goff will remain the franchise’s unquestioned starter for the foreseeable future. But behind him, the depth chart is wide open.

    Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell will almost certainly add at least two quarterbacks this offseason. One will likely be a veteran free agent who can step in if needed. The other could very well come from the 2026 NFL Draft, especially on Day 3, where teams often take swings on developmental passers with upside.

    Here are 10 quarterbacks the Lions should strongly consider as potential mid-to-late round options, based on performance, traits, and fit within Detroit’s offensive structure.

    Carson Beck – Miami (FL)

    A former top prospect with prototypical size (6’4”, 220), Beck has shown high-level processing and accuracy in past seasons, including an elite 2023 campaign. While his 2025 production dipped, the tools remain. In a developmental role behind Goff, Beck’s arm talent and experience in pro-style concepts would be intriguing.

    Cade Klubnik – Clemson

    Klubnik is an athletic, quick-release passer who rebounded with a strong 2024 and solid 2025. He’s comfortable working off play-action and on the move, which fits nicely with Detroit’s offensive identity. As a rhythm passer, he could thrive learning behind a timing-based quarterback like Goff.

    Drew Allar – Penn State

    Allar’s raw physical profile is hard to ignore at 6’5”, 235 pounds. While consistency and decision-making have been issues, the upside is still there. In a low-pressure developmental environment, Allar could be molded into a high-ceiling backup with starter traits.

    Jalon Daniels – Kansas

    Daniels brings toughness, mobility, and leadership. He’s not the biggest quarterback, but he’s a proven competitor who has thrived when healthy. His ability to create outside structure could give Detroit a change-of-pace option behind Goff.

    Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt

    One of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football in 2025, Pavia posted elite PFF grades and has a fearless playing style. While undersized, he’s a natural playmaker and could be an ideal high-end backup who can win games if called upon. That said, I don’t believe Pavia would fit the culture Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have built in the Motor City.

    Luke Altmyer – Illinois

    Altmyer is a steady, experienced Big Ten quarterback who protects the football and operates well from the pocket. He may not have star upside, but he profiles as a reliable No. 2 who fits a system built on timing and play-action.

    Sawyer Robertson – Baylor

    Robertson offers good size and arm strength, though his career has been marked by inconsistency. With proper development and mechanical refinement, he could become a useful long-term project.

    Taylen Green – Arkansas

    At 6’6”, 235 pounds, Green is a physical specimen with dual-threat ability and strong efficiency in 2024–25. His mobility adds a dimension Detroit doesn’t currently have at the position.

    Cole Payton – North Dakota State

    One of the most productive quarterbacks in the nation by advanced metrics, Payton dominated in 2025 and has the size and athleticism NFL teams covet. Coming from a pro-style FCS program, he may be one of the best value picks on Day 3.

    Tommy Castellanos – Florida State

    Castellanos is a dynamic runner with improving passing touch. While shorter than most NFL quarterbacks, his creativity and competitive edge could make him a valuable developmental piece.

    Detroit Lions tight ends coach Tim Kelly

    Why This Makes Sense for Detroit

    With Goff entrenched as the starter, the Lions can afford to think long-term. Drafting a quarterback on Day 3 allows Detroit to:

    • Develop a potential future starter
    • Secure a low-cost backup
    • Add a mobile or high-upside option to the room
    • Protect against injuries without major cap investment

    Brad Holmes has shown he values developmental upside and competition. One of these quarterbacks could be the next project that quietly pays off.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Jared Goff Opens Up on Lions Struggles — and Why He Still Believes in the Team

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    Even in a frustrating 2025 season, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff isn’t losing faith in the people running the show in Allen Park. The team has slipped from last year’s heights and endured more than its share of inconsistency, but Goff made it clear he still believes in the organization’s long-term vision.

    Speaking after practice, Goff didn’t hesitate when asked whether he still trusts the Lions’ front office and coaching staff.

    “I trust those guys immensely. They’re the ones who trusted me, and I trust the hell out of them,” Goff said as quoted by Lions OnSI. “I know they’re going to get things right… They’re as urgent and intentional about putting us in a better position and getting us in a spot where we can win more games next year as anybody.”

    That confidence says a lot, especially in a year where criticism has been flying from outside the building. Goff, now in his early 30s and having one of his most productive statistical seasons, understands that the NFL swings fast, and so does momentum.

    A Season Defined by Thin Margins

    When asked what this season has taught him about himself and the team, Goff didn’t sugarcoat it. The difference between winning and losing in the NFL? Razor thin.

    Last year, Detroit landed on the right side of tight games. This year… not so much.

    “The margin is just so thin,” Goff explained. “Last year we were on the right side of a lot of these close games… and then this year you’re on the wrong side of a lot of these, for our own doing. It’s not because of anything else.”

    In other words: same league, same effort, but a few small breakdowns can flip outcomes in a hurry.

    And Goff knows there’s only one way to fix it.

    “It’s a reminder of the work and the execution, communication — putting in all the time and hours in the intentional way to be on the right side of those margins. That’s our whole league… you’ve got to find a way to do it a little more than the other guy.”

    That’s a veteran quarterback talking, one who’s seen both ends of the NFL roller coaster.

    Big Picture: Trust, Accountability, and the Path Forward

    The Lions’ season hasn’t gone how anyone planned. But Goff’s tone wasn’t bitter or defeated. It was reflective. Steady. Even optimistic.

    He believes the roster is competitive.

    He believes the coaches are committed.

    And, maybe most importantly, he believes the team still has the right foundation.

    There are big questions ahead for Detroit heading into 2026… but if you’re looking for signs of locker-room cracks, you’re not finding them at quarterback.

    Goff is still bought in.

    And he’s clearly planning on helping lead the turnaround.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Jared Goff Sounds Off on Why He Refuses to Sit Out Week 18

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    With the Detroit Lions officially eliminated from playoff contention, plenty of people around the league assumed Week 18 would be a rest week for veterans like Jared Goff. But if you ask the Lions’ quarterback, sitting out isn’t even on the table, and he made that crystal clear during his Tuesday appearance on 97.1 The Ticket with Karsch & Anderson.

    When Goff was asked why it matters so much to him to suit up against the Chicago Bears in a game that technically doesn’t impact the standings, his answer came from a place of pride, responsibility, and leadership.

    “Because I’m the quarterback of this team and that’s what I do, I play on Sundays,” Goff said. “Like that’s the bottom line.”

    For Goff, it’s not just about finishing the season, it’s about honoring the game and the people in the locker room.

    “I think that’s not just for me, that’s for (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, that’s for everybody,” he continued. “Like we get paid an exorbitant amount to play football on Sundays and I don’t care what the situation is, we’re going to go out there and give it everything we have and try to win.”

    Beyond personal pride, Goff pointed out something bigger, Week 18 matters for the players whose future in the league is still uncertain.

    “There’s certainly guys that won’t be on this team next year that are playing for future jobs. And they know that. So they want to put their best foot forward as well.”

    And for the core players who will return in 2026, Goff views Sunday as a chance to show accountability and unity one last time before the offseason.

    “I think the guys that will be here next year, they want to express to their teammates, and to their coaches, you know, how much they care about each other, and make that known on Sunday.”

    In other words, yes, the playoff race is over. But inside the locker room, Week 18 still means something.

    It’s about professionalism. It’s about respect. And for Jared Goff, it’s about leading the team the way a franchise quarterback believes he should, by playing.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Nick Wright Says the Lions Are Fool’s Gold — And 2025 Proved It

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    Coming off a deep playoff run in 2023 and a 15-2 regular season in 2024, the Detroit Lions’ expectations inside Allen Park were sky-high. Players talked openly about unfinished business. Coaches preached urgency. Fans circled “Super Bowl contender” next to the Lions’ name before Week 1 even kicked off.

    And then the season happened.

    Between a brutal schedule, shaky offensive line play, and a defense that just couldn’t stay healthy, the Lions stumbled out of contention and officially missed the postseason for the first time since 2022. It wasn’t the script anybody expected, and now everyone is trying to unpack what went wrong.

    One of the louder voices weighing in? Fox Sports 1’s Nick Wright, and he didn’t exactly hold back.

    “Was the Super Bowl window ever really open?”

    According to Wright, the Lions’ failure to capitalize didn’t come out of nowhere, he believes Detroit may have been riding momentum more than reality.

    “I don’t know that the Lions’ Super Bowl window was ever actually open,” Wright said as quoted by Lions OnSI. “As good as Dan Campbell’s been, there’s been one season where they’ve won a playoff game since he’s been there. They won two, and then they blew a lead in the NFC Championship game.”

    In other words, Wright thinks Detroit’s magical rise masked structural cracks that resurfaced in 2025.

    Culture can elevate you. Culture can change a franchise. But culture alone doesn’t win chess matches in January.

    And that’s where Wright thinks the Lions took their biggest hit.

    Losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn? Yeah… that mattered.

    The Lions didn’t just lose players last offseason, they lost two of the sharpest minds on the sideline.

    Ben Johnson took over the Chicago Bears and immediately turned them into a legitimate NFC North contender. Aaron Glenn left for a head-coaching job of his own. And while plenty of fans shrugged at the time, figuring Detroit’s culture was strong enough to survive, Wright believes those departures ripped away Detroit’s biggest competitive advantage.

    “I think the loss of Ben Johnson is real,” Wright said. “I think the loss of Aaron Glenn… doesn’t mean that he wasn’t a super valuable defensive coordinator.”

    He wasn’t ripping John Morton or Kelvin Sheppard, but he was pointing out that the Lions no longer had the schematic edge they once did.

    Culture gets you out of the basement. Schematics keep you in the penthouse.

    Detroit fell somewhere in between.

    Jared Goff: Good… but limited when things go sideways

    Wright also revisited his long-standing take on Jared Goff, calling him a “civilian” quarterback in a league where some guys wear capes.

    And the Christmas Day collapse didn’t help the narrative.

    After protecting the ball most of the year, Goff was directly involved in five turnovers in Detroit’s elimination loss. That was the kind of performance that makes analysts and fans question ceiling vs. floor.

    “If everything is just right, he can be exceptional,” Wright said. “He’s accurate, he’s on time, he can operate your offense. But if things get a little off, I don’t think he can fix things for you. That’s just a hard way to operate.”

    That’s not a condemnation, but it is a reminder of what the Lions must build around him:

    • Elite blocking
    • Strong run game
    • Stable, coordinated structure

    When those things crack? The margin disappears fast.

    So… where do the Lions go from here?

    This season will sting for a while. There’s no way around that.

    But there’s also clarity.

    The Lions don’t need a culture reboot. They don’t need to blow up the roster. They don’t need to panic.

    What they do need is:

    • Smarter game-planning
    • Stronger trenches
    • A renewed commitment to coaching excellence

    The Lions proved they can build something legitimate.

    2026 will determine whether they can sustain it.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Ryan Clark Blasts Jared Goff After Lions’ Christmas Day Collapse vs. Vikings

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    If you watched the Detroit Lions’ Christmas Day matchup against the Vikings…well, first of all, I’m sorry. Detroit’s 23–10 loss didn’t just knock them out of the playoff race; it also handed Jared Goff one of the ugliest games of his Lions career. And when you turn the ball over five times in a must-win spot on national TV, you already know the criticism is coming.

    And it came hard.

    Goff had a direct hand in five of Detroit’s six turnovers, and the Lions offense never looked like it had a pulse. Combine that with the fact that this was one of only three showcase games on Christmas Day, and the entire football world got a front-row seat to what can only be described as a disaster.

    ESPN’s Ryan Clark didn’t hold back.

    Clark’s message: This wasn’t just bad — it was unacceptable

    Clark didn’t frame this as “just a bad game.” He framed it as a pattern, the type of performance that shows up in the worst possible moments.

    “Jared Goff can build you up to make you believe that you have a chance,” Clark said as quoted by LionsWire. “And then, you go back to the Super Bowl versus Bill Belichick and the way that that offense didn’t show up under Sean McVay or you go back to the second half of the NFC championship in San Francisco. Think back to last year against the Washington Commanders and all the turnovers Jared Goff had in that game.

    Then he dropped the hammer.

    “And now you’re going to look at a must-have-it game for the Detroit Lions. You understand what your defense is facing with all of those injuries and to turn the football over five times, to look hapless at many points in this game and also to feel like you don’t have an answer to what Brian Flores and their defense is presenting to you, it’s unacceptable for Jared Goff.”

    That word — unacceptable — really stuck.

    Clark wasn’t just talking about the turnovers. He pointed to how lost the offense looked, how unprepared Detroit seemed for Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense, and how Goff never found answers.

    For a quarterback the organization has fully committed to, that stings.

    “This is an organization, this is a head coach, this is a general manager that has put the ultimate trust in Jared Goff to be able to elevate this team and yesterday he let them down,” Clark said.

    Fair or too harsh? Depends how you see Goff

    Here’s the tricky thing about Jared Goff: he’s capable of looking like a top-10 quarterback… until he suddenly doesn’t. When things are clean, the timing is sharp, and the Lions are rolling? He looks fantastic.

    But when games get chaotic?

    Mistakes snowball. Confidence dips. The turnovers come in bunches.

    And in a game where Detroit’s defense was already stretched thin by injuries, Goff simply couldn’t afford to play that poorly, yet he did.

    So what does this mean going forward?

    This isn’t a “bench Goff tomorrow” situation. The Lions have built around him, extended him, and trusted him. He’s done a lot right in Detroit.

    But Clark’s message highlights a real concern:

    • Can Goff win when everything isn’t perfect?
    • Can he handle pressure in the biggest moments?
    • Can he stop games like this from spiraling?

    Those are the questions contenders face, and for a team that believes its window is open, the answers matter.

    Bottom Line

    I still believe Jared Goff is capable of winning a Super Bowl, but the path for him isn’t the same as it is for a Mahomes- or Allen-type quarterback. For Goff to reach the mountaintop, he needs an elite offensive line in front of him and a dominant running game behind him. When the pocket is clean, the run game is humming, and the offense stays on schedule, Goff can operate at a championship level. But if the Lions want him to be the quarterback who finishes the job, they have to build and maintain the kind of trench dominance that allows him to play his best football when the stakes are highest.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Detroit Lions’ Playoff Hopes Die in Embarrassing Fashion After Ugly Christmas Loss to Vikings

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    The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes died on Christmas, and they went out with a whimper.

    In one of the worst offensive performances of the Dan Campbell era, the Lions fell 23–10 to the Minnesota Vikings, officially eliminating Detroit from postseason contention. The loss was made even more painful by the circumstances: Minnesota started third-string quarterback Max Brosmer, and the Lions still couldn’t take advantage.

    Instead, Detroit self-destructed.

    The Lions turned the ball over six times, while the Vikings didn’t give the ball away once. Jared Goff threw two interceptions, Detroit’s running backs coughed it up multiple times, and the offense never looked comfortable. The Lions also rushed for under 70 yards, and Goff was sacked five times behind a struggling offensive line.

    Before a final meaningless, stat-padding drive in garbage time, Detroit had just 196 total yards of offense, which would have gone down as the lowest offensive output in Campbell’s tenure.

    And yet… the defense played well enough to win.

    Against an injury-depleted Minnesota offense, the Lions produced one of their best defensive efforts of the year. Detroit held the Vikings to just three net passing yards, thanks to six sacks and relentless pressure throughout the night.

    But every time the Lions’ defense got a stop, the offense handed the momentum right back.

    Turnovers. Missed blocks. No rhythm in the run game. No spark in the passing game. It has been the same story for weeks, and on Christmas, it finally caught up to them for good.

    How the Game Played Out

    Minnesota struck first with an Aaron Jones goal-line touchdown run in the first quarter. Detroit eventually answered late in the second quarter on a Jared Goff touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, tying the game at 7–7 heading into halftime.

    From there, the Vikings slowly pulled away.

    Rookie kicker Will Reichard drilled two long field goals in the third quarter to give Minnesota a 13–7 lead. Detroit cut it to 13–10 in the fourth with a Jake Bates field goal, but the momentum disappeared moments later.

    On the very next drive, Jordan Addison broke loose for a stunning 65-yard rushing touchdown, putting the game out of reach. Reichard added one final field goal to seal the 23–10 win and end Detroit’s season.

    A Fitting — and Frustrating — End

    The Lions haven’t looked like themselves for a long time — and Sunday proved it.

    The run game has deteriorated. The passing attack has lacked confidence and rhythm. The turnovers have been relentless. And the explosive plays that once fueled Detroit’s rise have vanished.

    Meanwhile, the defense finally delivered… and the offense left them stranded.

    On a national stage. On Christmas Day. With the season on the line.

    The Lions had a chance to keep their playoff hopes alive — instead, they watched them disappear.

    Detroit now turns its attention to the offseason, facing big questions about roster health, offensive identity, and how a once-promising season unraveled down the stretch.

    But one thing is certain:

    The Lions won’t be part of the postseason in 2025.

    And the way it ended is going to sting for a long time.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Detroit Lions Sound Off: Leaders Speak as Playoff Hopes Hang by a Thread

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    The Detroit Lions walked out of Ford Field on Sunday knowing this one would linger.

    A last-second offensive pass interference call wiped away what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown, sealing a brutal loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But inside the locker room, the message was less about officiating, and more about accountability, identity, and what comes next.

    Here are the quotes that defined the night.

    Dan Campbell: “It shouldn’t ever come to that.”

    Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hide his frustration, but he also didn’t deflect blame.

    “We weren’t able to close it out,” Campbell said. “And at the end of the day, that’s on us. We put ourselves in that position.”

    On the controversial ending, Campbell made it clear his team had chances long before the final snap.

    “I don’t even want to get into it, because it’s not going to change anything. We still lost. It shouldn’t ever come to that. We had our opportunities and didn’t put it in before that play.”

    Jared Goff: “Find out who we are.”

    Quarterback Jared Goff echoed Campbell’s tone, frustrated but focused forward.

    “The message was to find out who we are, character-wise — find out what we’re made of,” Goff said.

    Goff acknowledged the reality of the playoff picture without sugarcoating it.

    “We know the percentages. We know we’re not eliminated, but we know we need some things to go our way.”

    On being on the outside looking in late in the season, Goff admitted the pressure is real.

    “We haven’t had that feeling, and it’s creeping in on us now. Are we who we say we are? That’s what these next games will show.”

    Amon-Ra St. Brown: “It never comes down to one play.”

    Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was calm, measured, and blunt about the ending.

    “It is what it is,” St. Brown said. “Those are the rules. You can’t change them.”

    St. Brown shut down the idea that the game hinged on one flag.

    “It never comes down to one play. There were plenty of plays throughout the game that we could have made.”

    On whether Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey sold the call:

    “We got a PI on them earlier in that drive. We got a call, they got a call. At the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays.”

    Aidan Hutchinson: “Fix it and move on.”

    Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson didn’t dodge responsibility, even while acknowledging the controversy.

    “You can look at it two ways. Defensively, we didn’t have to put our offense in that position.”

    Still, Hutchinson admitted the ending was hard to swallow.

    “I’ve never seen two offensive pass interference calls decide a game like that. It sucks, because there’s no changing it.”

    His focus, though, was already shifting forward.

    “All we can do is fix our mistakes and move on.”

    Taylor Decker: “We put ourselves in that position.”

    Veteran tackle Taylor Decker spoke like someone who’s been through it before.

    “It sucks. There’s no sugar-coating that.”

    Decker pointed to missed opportunities earlier in the game.

    “We had so many chances earlier. We didn’t play well enough. We put ourselves in that position, and it didn’t have to be that way.”

    On the broader playoff situation:

    “That’s the heartbreaking part of this league — you have to earn it every week. Nobody cares what you did last year.”

    Kalif Raymond: “Don’t lose your identity.”

    Receiver Kalif Raymond captured the emotional weight of the locker room, and the message Campbell delivered afterward.

    “The toughest part about the NFL is even after a loss like this, you’ve got to come back to work the next day.”

    Raymond shared Campbell’s words directly.

    “He said, ‘Don’t lose your identity. Know who you are. Lick your wounds tonight and go back to work tomorrow.’”

    Bottom Line

    The Lions could have pointed fingers. They didn’t.

    Instead, the locker room message was consistent from top to bottom: the loss hurt, the ending stung, but the season isn’t over, and accountability starts internally.

    With a short week and a division matchup looming, Detroit now faces the question Jared Goff posed himself:

    Are the Lions who they say they are — when it matters most?

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Steelers escape with win as penalty wipes out Lions’ wild game-ending touchdown

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    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    The Pittsburgh Steelers escaped Detroit with a 29-24 win over the Lions on Sunday as the game came down to the final seconds.

    Jared Goff and the Lions had one last chance. The team earned multiple shots at the end zone after fighting through penalty flags. Goff thought he had wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the go-ahead score, but offensive pass interference was called on Isaac TeSlaa, which negated the score. A false start penalty then moved the Lions back even further from the goal line.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Pittsburgh Steelers’ Asante Samuel Jr. (22) Joey Porter Jr. (24) and Jalen Ramsey (5) celebrate after Pittsburgh won an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit.  (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

    But they had one more chance. Goff dropped back to pass and targeted St. Brown. The wide receiver caught the pass and was initially thought to have been stopped before the goal line. However, he lateralled the ball to Goff, who ran it in for what the team and fans thought was the game-winning touchdown.

    A flag was thrown on the play.

    The officiating crew took time to get the mess sorted out. Fans waited with bated breath to see what the call was going to be. Officials said there was a touchdown on the play, but St. Brown was called for offensive pass interference as he pushed into Jalen Ramsey while trying to get open.

    Detroit fans’ cheers immediately turned to boos. Lions players were left in disbelief.

    STEELERS STAR RECEIVER DK METCALF TAKES SWING AT LIONS FAN DURING GAME IN DETROIT

    Lions players wait for the call

    Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff (16) waits for a call on the final play of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit.  (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

    Dan Campbell talks to the referee

    Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with officials after the final play of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

    “Chaos,” Aaron Rodgers said when asked how he would describe the final play. “I was a part of a game 13 years ago that had this kind of chaos. That was with some replacement referees, though.

    “I mean, just watching it now, looks like there’s an OPI. Looks like he’s stopped. Looks like forward progress just stopped. Crazy game.”

    It was a huge win for the Steelers, who were trying to stay on top of the AFC North.

    Rodgers was 27-of-41 with 266 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell. Running back Jaylen Warren had 143 rushing yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.

    The win also solidifies another winning season for head coach Mike Tomlin. It’s 19 straight seasons of at least a .500 record or better.

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    Goff had another incredible game for the Lions in spite of the loss. He was 34-of-54 for 364 yards and three touchdown passes. TeSlaa, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond each had touchdown receptions.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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  • Jared Goff Wants NFL Fans to See the Game the Way Quarterbacks Do

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    Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff made an interesting suggestion this week, one that could completely change how the public views quarterback play. After watching a bit of the Monday Night Football matchup between the Steelers and Dolphins, Goff admitted he picked up a few notes on Pittsburgh. But he also noted something every QB already knows:

    TV broadcasts don’t show nearly enough.

    Goff openly supported the idea of NFL broadcasts showing more All-22 angles: the same wide, overhead view used in film rooms. It’s the only angle where fans can truly see what the quarterback sees: routes, coverage shells, disguises, leverage, spacing, and defensive movement.

    “It’d be nice for me watching the game for sure,” Goff said via Lions OnSI. “I’d like for everyone to be at practice with us all week too… to see how we have to go through reads and progress through things.”

    He’s not exaggerating. On TV, fans see maybe two receivers per play. Goff sees five, plus linebackers, safeties, and the pass rush. It’s a totally different world, and it’s why quarterbacks sometimes get blamed for things that were never really on them.

    Goff: Quarterbacks Take All the Heat — and All the Praise

    Even with the challenges, Goff kept his perspective balanced. He knows the territory.

    “It’s a hard position and we take all the blame, though,” he said.
    “It’s all good — and we get a lot of the praise as well.”

    Classic Goff: honest, realistic, and not looking for sympathy. But his point stands: a more complete broadcast angle would dramatically change how fans understand the game.

    And maybe, just maybe, it would calm down the weekly overreactions when a quarterback doesn’t make a miracle throw to a receiver the camera never even showed.

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    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • What are the Detroit Lions’ Chances of Making the Playoffs?

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    The Detroit Lions may have taken a gut punch against the Rams, but let’s not pretend the season is slipping away. In fact, the playoff picture is still very much alive, and if the Lions take care of business over the final three weeks, the rest of the NFC might want to start checking their mirrors.

    That’s not hype. That’s not blind fandom.
    That’s what the numbers are telling us.

    According to the latest projections from the New York Times, Detroit’s playoff chances surge to 94% if they win out. Yes, the same Lions team that just pushed one of the NFC’s best to the wire is still holding nearly every card it needs to play meaningful football in January.

    And the best part? Winning out is totally realistic.

    The Schedule Sets Up Perfectly

    Detroit closes the season with:

    • Week 16: vs. Steelers
    • Week 17: at Vikings
    • Week 18: at Bears

    Neither the Steelers nor the Vikings are playing particularly inspired football right now. The Lions, despite the injuries and inconsistency, are still the more complete roster than both of those teams. In fact, almost anyone would take the Lions current roster over what the Bears are marching out on a weekly basis.

    You can feel it, even after a loss, that this team understands what’s at stake.

    Win all three, and the Lions are nearly a lock to get in.

    That’s why the simulations lean heavily in Detroit’s favor when they run the “win out” scenario. The Lions don’t need miracles, and they don’t need tiebreaker chaos. They just need to play their brand of football for three straight weeks.

    Momentum Is Everything — and the Lions Can Build It Fast

    Despite the loss to Los Angeles, the offense showed exactly why nobody wants to face Detroit in a Wild Card game. Jared Goff threw for 338 yards. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams both posted monster performances. The playmakers are playing like stars, and when Dan Campbell presses the gas pedal, this team can go blow-for-blow with anyone in the conference.

    Defensively, things are not looking as great with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch both out. Young players are gaining snaps, reinforcements are returning, and the coaching adjustments we’ve seen over the last month suggest this unit is capable of stabilizing at just the right time.

    And historically?
    Campbell teams finish strong. They don’t fade, they surge.

    Imagine the Lions rolling into the postseason on a three-game win streak. Imagine this offense humming, the defense tightening up, and Detroit entering January as one of the hottest teams in football.

    It’s not far-fetched.
    It’s the most likely outcome if Detroit does what it’s capable of.

    The Bottom Line: Don’t Count Out Detroit

    The numbers say the Lions are still positioned to make the playoffs.
    The remaining schedule gives them a clear path.
    And the confidence inside that locker room hasn’t wavered for a second.

    So, yes, if the Detroit Lions win out, which they absolutely can, then look out. This team isn’t just fighting for a playoff berth. They’re fighting to remind the NFC that last year was no fluke. The window is open, the opportunity is real, and Detroit is nowhere close to finished.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Local Writer Urges Frank Ragnow to ‘Stay Home’ — Which is Peak ‘Loser Mentality’

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    On Friday, local writer Vito Chirco from Lions OnSI published an opinion piece titled “Frank Ragnow Can Stay Home, Lions’ 2025 Season Looks Bleak.” And while the frustration after the Thanksgiving loss is understandable, the article’s central argument, that Ragnow should “stay home”, is not only misguided, it’s downright disrespectful.

    The Detroit Lions are 7–5, not 2–10. They are banged up, inconsistent, and currently in a skid, but they are still very much alive in the NFC. Suggesting the return of a four-time Pro Bowl center is somehow harmful? That’s not analysis. That’s panic dressed up as insight.

    What Chirco Actually Wrote — And Why It’s Wrong

    To be fair, Chirco didn’t mince words. He made his stance clear, and that’s exactly the problem. Here are the exact lines he used:

    • “Frank Ragnow can stay home.”
    • “Anyone still hanging on to the idea that Ragnow… can swoop in and stabilize this unraveling season is clinging to a fantasy.”
    • “Inserting Ragnow into this mess isn’t a solution. It’s a distraction from the larger, more uncomfortable truth.”

    These are not subtle criticisms. These are full-blown declarations that Ragnow’s return, the return of one of the best offensive linemen in the entire league over the past seven years, is meaningless at best and harmful at worst.

    That is objectively false.

    The Lions’ number one issue over the last month has been the offensive line. Jared Goff has been under siege. Protection breakdowns have wrecked drives before they could start. The run game has lost consistency. Communication has suffered. These are exactly the areas in which Frank Ragnow makes a tangible, immediate difference.

    Calling his comeback “a distraction” is wildly off-base.

    Ragnow Isn’t a Savior — But He Absolutely Matters

    Chirco argued, “No one player… is going to be able to come in and rectify all the team’s woes.”
    Well… of course not. Nobody has suggested Ragnow is a cure-all.

    But to leap from “he can’t fix everything” to “he should stay home”? That’s not a logical jump, it’s a leap into negativity for the sake of negativity.

    Ragnow has been, for the better part of a decade, one of the greatest centers in football. He has steadied blitz packages, fixed protection calls, opened running lanes, and elevated the entire offense around him. His return does not guarantee a playoff berth, but it could absolutely re-stabilize the unit that needs help the most.

    That’s not “fantasy.” That’s football.

    Calling Out the ‘Loser Mentality’

    Saying that Ragnow’s return “isn’t a solution” and declaring the Lions’ season bleak in late November is exactly the kind of fatalistic, premature surrender that Dan Campbell’s locker room rejects entirely.

    This is the same franchise that battled to 15–2 last year.
    The same coach who turned a 1–6 team into a playoff contender.
    The same core that fights every single week, regardless of setbacks.

    To dismiss them in Week 13, and to dismiss Ragnow specifically, isn’t tough criticism. It’s giving up early.

    This Team Still Has a Pulse

    The Lions are 7–5 with:

    • Elite offensive weapons
    • A young, hungry defense
    • A coaching staff that has pulled this team out of ruts before
    • And now… their future Hall of Fame center returning

    Does that guarantee anything? No.

    But to act like Detroit is already dead, or that Ragnow should “stay home,” is the type of perspective that folds when adversity hits. Detroit fans expect better from their team, and should expect better from the writers who cover them.

    Bottom Line

    Frank Ragnow coming back is not a distraction. It’s not a fantasy.
    It’s not meaningless. And it’s definitely not something to tell him to “stay home” over.

    Some local writers are ready to throw in the towel.
    I am not that writer.

    The Lions aren’t done.
    The season isn’t over.
    And Frank Ragnow is exactly the type of player who can help flip the script, whether some people want to admit it or not.

    Click here if you want to read the full article from Vito Chirco.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Everything Jared Goff Said After Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Loss to Packers

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    The Detroit Lions walked off Ford Field on Thanksgiving with a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and quarterback Jared Goff didn’t hide from the moment. From accountability on a critical fourth-down miss to his belief in the offense moving forward, Goff covered a lot of ground in his postgame media session.

    Here’s everything Jared Goff said after the loss, with his full cleaned-up quotes organized by topic.

    On Frank Ragnow’s Surprise Comeback

    News broke this week that Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement and is expected to rejoin the Lions’ lineup soon. Goff said he’d known something might be brewing for a little while.

    On when he first heard Ragnow was thinking about returning:

    “Yeah, a few weeks ago. He reached out and had a little interest, I think, and got that itch again, and yeah, we’ll be excited to get him back.”

    Later, he circled back to the topic and reiterated how happy he is to have Ragnow back in the mix:

    “I didn’t know he was coming back for sure a few weeks ago, but I knew he was interested a few weeks ago. I’m glad he’s back. It’ll be fun.”

    On How the Offense Settled In After a Rough Start

    The Lions’ offense sputtered early but eventually found a rhythm, even without Amon-Ra St. Brown for most of the game.

    Goff’s overall view of how the unit played:

    “Pretty good. I thought there were good moments offensively. We moved the ball pretty well at times. Obviously it wasn’t enough and we come up short that way. It sucks. It hurts. You wish you had another chance to try to get another one, but yeah, man, it hurts. It sucks. And they played well. You tip your cap.”

    On Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Tom Kennedy Stepping Up

    With St. Brown leaving early due to an ankle injury and Sam LaPorta already out, the Lions needed others to step into bigger roles. Goff highlighted Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Tom Kennedy by name.

    On Williams and the other receivers answering the call:

    “Yeah. Tesla made some key plays. We kind of knew it would become JMO’s game there really before the game, and then when that happens, you really know it. Then Tess, I thought, stepped up and did a good job. I thought TK, he’s going to be an unsung hero there, being able to step in and know all the stuff. Really impressive. But yeah, it’s still a moral victory that we were able to get JMO going like that.”

    And when he was asked more broadly about playing without his usual “safety blankets”:

    “Yeah, I thought everyone stepped up and did a good job. Jamo became that guy that was getting open a lot and we were trying to get him the ball. I thought Tesla did a good job and, like I said, TK did a good job. Guys stepped up.”

    On the Failed Fourth-Down Throw to Jameson Williams

    The turning point of the night came early in the fourth quarter, with Detroit trailing 31-21 and facing 4th-and-3 from the Green Bay 21. Goff rolled right and fired to Williams, but the pass was low and behind him, resulting in an incompletion.

    Goff took that one squarely on himself:

    “Yeah, I did. I got to connect with Jamo there on the one down in the red zone. I got to give him a better throw and he makes the catch. He might score right there and the drive might be over. That’s the one that will hurt me for a while. And then they converted on their fourth downs and tip your cap. I thought they played really well.”

    On Why the Lions Are Struggling on Fourth Down

    The Lions have now stacked multiple games where fourth down has bitten them hard. Goff didn’t point to scheme or playcalling — instead, he went back to execution and his own missed opportunity.

    His answer on how they fix the fourth-down problem:

    “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. You just got to execute in those big moments. That’s really it. I wish there was some magic potion to take to be better on fourth down, but there’s not. I had Jamo open. He’s screaming across. I got to hit him. That’s the bottom line. There’s no other way to fix it. I hit him there, then we’re one for two on fourth down and probably get more points there.”

    On Life Without Amon-Ra St. Brown

    Losing St. Brown early changed the shape of the game plan. Goff acknowledged the impact, while also downplaying any idea that it completely derailed the offense.

    On how much the offense changes without him:

    “It changes some stuff. He’s obviously such a big part of our offense and a lot of it goes through him, so it changes a little bit, but not much.”

    On the Lions’ Mindset at 7–5 and What Comes Next

    With the Lions now 7–5 and behind both the Packers and Chicago Bears in the NFC North race, every week from here feels like a playoff game. Goff was blunt about the stakes but kept his message simple.

    On where the team goes from here:

    “Win the next one. Find a way to win the next one. Get to 8-5, and then after that it’s going to be the same answer. We know where we’re at. We certainly know that this was consequential for division rankings and whatnot, but yeah, we got to win the next one and find a way to beat Dallas.”

    From taking responsibility for a missed throw that “will hurt me for a while” to backing his banged-up supporting cast and welcoming Frank Ragnow back into the huddle, Jared Goff’s message after Thanksgiving was pretty clear: no excuses, no magic fixes — just execution, resilience, and finding a way to win the next one.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Jared Goff Puts Loss To Packers on Himself: ‘That Throw Will Hurt Me for a While’

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    The Detroit Lions had their shot. Down 31–21 on Thanksgiving with just under 11 minutes remaining, the offense faced a massive 4th-and-3 at the Green Bay 21-yard line. It was exactly the kind of moment you expect your franchise quarterback to deliver in, and Jared Goff had the right call, the right read, and the right receiver.

    The play design rolled Goff to his right, freeing Jameson Williams on a crosser with room to run. Williams separated, the window opened, and Goff fired. But the ball arrived low and slightly behind the sprinting wideout, bouncing off Williams’ hands and hip before hitting the turf.

    For a Lions team desperately needing points, it was the turning point.

    And afterward, Goff didn’t dodge a single ounce of the responsibility.

    Goff: “That’s the one that’ll hurt me for a while.”

    In his postgame presser, Goff was blunt about the miss: no excuses, no deflection, no hesitation.

    He said, “I’ve got to connect with Jammo there on the one down in the red zone. I’ve got to give him a better throw. He makes that catch, he might score right there, and the drive might be over. That’s the one that’ll hurt me for a while.”

    Those are the words of a quarterback who knows exactly what that moment meant.

    Goff didn’t attribute it to timing, pressure, scheme, or personnel. He pinned it entirely on himself.

    The fourth-down issue isn’t complicated to Goff: “I’ve just got to hit him.”

    Detroit’s struggles on fourth down have lingered over the last few weeks. Goff was asked how the team can improve in those moments, and his answer was almost startlingly simple.

    “I don’t think there’s anything you can do… you’ve just got to execute in those big moments,” he said. “I had Jamo open. He’s screaming across. I’ve got to hit him. That’s the bottom line.”

    No magic solution. No “we’ll look at the tape.” No shifting blame.

    Just a quarterback saying: I have to make the throw.

    Even without St. Brown, Goff felt others stepped up

    Losing Amon-Ra St. Brown early in the game didn’t help, but Goff didn’t lean on that as a reason for the loss.

    “Everyone stepped up and did a good job. Jamo became that guy who was getting open a lot,” he said. “TeSlaa did a good job, TK did a good job… guys stepped up.”

    If anything, he seemed encouraged by what the backups contributed, reinforcing that the missed fourth-down opportunities were what truly swung the game.

    The mindset now? One message: “Win the next one.”

    At 7–5, the Lions are in a very different position than last season, when they surged into playoff contention. But Goff isn’t entertaining any panic.

    “Win the next one. Find a way to win the next one. Get to eight and five,” he said. “We know where we’re at… but we’ve got to beat Dallas.”

    It’s as straightforward as it gets: don’t dwell, don’t spiral — respond.

    The Bottom Line

    Jared Goff isn’t ducking from the loss. He’s not pointing fingers. He’s not offering excuses.

    He knows the throw to Jameson Williams was the pivot point, and he said it plainly: that one’s on him.

    If the Lions claw their way out of this late-season hole, this accountability from their quarterback may end up being one of the reasons why.

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    Don Drysdale

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  • Jared Goff Reveals Truth About Jahmyr Gibbs Following Epic Performance vs. Giants

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    If you needed any more proof that Jahmyr Gibbs is becoming that dude, just ask the quarterback who gets the best seat in the building.

    After the Detroit Lions’ wild 34–27 overtime win against the Giants, Jared Goff made it crystal clear: Gibbs isn’t just electric, he’s evolving into one of the NFL’s true superstars. And according to Goff, that game-winning 69-yard touchdown run? He knew it was “over” almost immediately.

    Goff: Gibbs Is Turning Into “One of the Best Players in the NFL”

    Goff didn’t dance around it. He dropped the kind of praise usually reserved for franchise pillars.

    “Man, that dude is as good as they come in our league, and he’s making his claim across our league as one of the best players, regardless of position and we are lucky to have him, man,” Goff said as quoted by Lions OnSI. “He’s so electric.”

    Detroit’s offense sputtered throughout the afternoon, but every time the Lions were desperate for life, Gibbs delivered.

    “For him to be able to do that to supplement some of the struggles we were having was awesome.”

    This wasn’t Gibbs being good, this was Gibbs saving Detroit’s season momentum.

    Why Defenses Panic the Second Gibbs Touches the Ball

    Goff says the fear is real. You can feel the panic on the other sideline.

    “A ton. A ton of energy and you can tell the fear in the defense when the ball gets in his hands, the way they rally to him.”

    And once Gibbs hits the second level? It’s a wrap.

    “Certainly, when he gets to the second-level on some of those longer runs, you can feel the safety, the angle they start taking, and it’s a good feeling for us, hard for a defense.”

    He’s also quietly becoming a lethal pass-catcher.

    “He’s doing a great job learning these routes, getting better at these routes. His hands are as good as they need to be.”

    Goff even joked that he went to Gibbs too often because the guy was that hot.

    “Sometimes you are playing quarterback, you’re trying to be a point guard, and he’s the hot hand… again, probably one too many times.”

    When your quarterback admits he can’t stop giving you the ball? That’s superstardom.

    Goff Knew the 69-Yard Overtime Touchdown Was “Over” After 7 Yards

    On the first play of overtime, the Lions ran their bread-and-butter duo play behind Penei Sewell and rookie Tate Ratledge. And the moment Gibbs slipped through?

    Goff raised his hand.

    “I think I put my hand up, and he was about seven yards down the field.”

    “You can see the angle he’s about to take and the angle the safety had. It’s over.”

    He even pointed out that Giants safety Dane Belton is legitimately fast.

    “24 on their team is not a slow player… and Jah ran away from him a couple of times. He’s got a different level.”

    Translation: Gibbs didn’t just win the footrace, he made a fast NFL safety look slow.

    Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions 78-yard touchdown

    Gibbs Isn’t Quiet in the Locker Room — Just in Front of Cameras

    Fans sometimes assume Gibbs is shy. Goff says that’s not the case.

    “He’s normal with us. He talks to us, and he’s great. He’s a great player, a great worker, a great teammate who does everything right.”

    Quiet superstar? Not behind the scenes.

    Detroit Has a Superstar, and Everyone Knows It

    Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t emerging, he’s arrived.

    He’s feared.
    He’s explosive.
    He’s taking over games that Detroit absolutely had to win.

    And according to the guy who sees it closest, the leap Gibbs is making isn’t hype, it’s real:

    He’s becoming one of the best players in the NFL.

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    Don Drysdale

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