Jared Goff is now being seriously considered among the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Following an impressive 15-2 campaign that was cut short by a Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders, Goff and the Detroit Lions are aiming to return to form and make another strong push for the Super Bowl in 2025.
The problem? The NFL seems to agree that Goff is elite, and they’ve lined up a brutal early-season gauntlet for him. The Lions’ newly released schedule proves just how tough the road ahead is, with Goff set to face some of the league’s most dangerous teams and quarterbacks during the first half of the year.
A single glance at Detroit’s early schedule reveals just how tough things will be. The majority of these matchups are away games and will truly challenge Goff and the Lions’ revamped offense against top contenders from the 2024 season.
They kick off on the road against NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers, followed by two tough road trips in Weeks 5 and 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs. Between those matchups, they’ll face the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears. Their lone “soft” opponent in Weeks 1 through 6 might be the home game versus the Cleveland Browns.
Before getting their BYE in Week 8, the Lions will play away from Ford Field in four of their first seven games, with each away opponent posing a significant threat. Goff will be going head-to-head with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Caleb Johnson, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, and whoever takes the snaps for Cleveland.
That said, this front-loaded challenge could help Goff later on. He tends to struggle in poor weather, and the second half of the season includes more indoor matchups or home games. After their BYE, the Lions will host several crucial contests in more controlled conditions.
But there’s a catch: their late-season schedule includes away games at Philadelphia, Washington, and Chicago – all likely to feature frigid conditions. These aren’t the kind of environments where Goff has historically excelled, and weather could play a big role.
That’s why winning early is critical. Detroit can’t afford to rely on success in those cold-weather matchups. If they want a shot at another deep playoff run, they’ll need to stack up victories early, before the worst of winter hits.
