General manager Brad Holmes denies the concept on principle, but the Detroit Lions are absolutely in a "Super Bowl window." The question then becomes how do they get over the hump in 2025, and beyond. Compared to last year, a natural correction toward better health on the defensive side will be helpful.
After their playoff loss to the Washington Commanders in January, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report had a concise, sobering analysis of the Lions' outlook.
"The Lions have too much talent not to bounce back in 2025, but the conclusion to 2024 has to leave you wondering if this franchise can actually make a Super Bowl run with Jared Goff leading the offense."
Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports hit a similar note, tabbing Goff as one of five quarterbacks under the most pressure to win the Super Bowl in 2025.
For as good as Goff was all season last season, he was awful in that loss to the Commanders. The concussion he suffered during the game may have been a factor, but he was cleared to return. And if not for how bad Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was in the regular season finale, more attention would have been paid to how bad Goff was in that game.
The questions about Goff, and the Lions' ceiling with him under center as his contract extension starts to hit the team's balance sheet, are not going away.
Lions beat writer dials up heat on Jared Goff heading into 2025
ESPN's NFC North beat writers recently collaborated to answer some interesting questions from across the division. On the topic of "which quarterback has the most to prove?" in the division, the easy answers are Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams or Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. But Lions' beat writer Eric Woodyard made a solid case for Goff.
"After a historic 2024 regular season, during which he reached career highs in touchdowns (37) and QBR (68.4) -- it all ended in disappointment with a stunning upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round. Goff accounted for four of the team's five turnovers in that game, including three interceptions and a lost fumble."
"So the question remains: Can Goff help the team win a Super Bowl? He has yet to prove that despite all of his individual success."
Seemingly piggybacking on Woodyard's sentiment during Monday's edition of "Get Up", ESPN's Peter Schrager called Goff the single most important player in the NFC this season.
"I think Jared Goff is the single most important player in the NFC this season," Schrager said. "There has been a raid of his coaching staff from the last several years, six different coaches gone including Ben Johnson, and now you’re telling me that Frank Ragnow, his longtime center, in addition to other members of the offensive line, are no longer there as well?"
"....And now you’ve got to say, ‘Hey, we pay you big money.’ Jared Goff, are we gonna be the same team or are we gonna take a massive step back? Because if he is one of those top quarterbacks, they should still be the best team in the NFC North this year.”
With a new offensive coordinator and especially now without center Frank Ragnow, Goff has to prove he can still perform at a high level despite greatly altered circumstances this year. Until he shows he can, the questions (and skepticism, from some corners) will be automatic. If he doesn't perform well and the Lions have a disappointing 2025 season, the skeptics will be proven right.
