Jared Goff and the Lions still remember the wave of skepticism that came following their Week 1 defeat to the Packers.
One of the common Week 1 overreactions this season was the claim that Detroit’s offense regressed heavily after former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become the Bears’ head coach. In that loss to the Packers, the Lions’ offense stalled, managing only two field goals until the closing minute. They totaled just 246 yards of offense, including a mere 46 yards on the ground.
Doubts quickly surrounded the Lions after that opening loss, but they quickly silenced those concerns with dominant outings in Weeks 2 and 3. In victories over the Bears and Ravens, Detroit tallied 90 total points, over 900 yards of offense, and 403 yards rushing. The inventive play-calling they had under Johnson returned, helping fuel a statement win.
Though quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions didn’t buy into the outside panic after falling to Green Bay, they’ve been using that criticism as fuel moving forward.
“Two weeks ago it felt like the sky was collapsing. I won’t forget everyone who assumed we were finished,” Goff said on 97.1 The Ticket. “We’ll keep that in mind for the season and use it for motivation.”
The Lions have not only dismissed doubts about new offensive coordinator John Morton, but also quieted questions about defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Although Baltimore scored 30 points, Sheppard’s defense brought Lamar Jackson down seven times, a rare feat against the two-time MVP.
Even with new coordinators on both sides of the ball, the Lions have shown they remain among the NFC’s most dangerous teams heading forward.
