The Detroit Lions entered Kansas City holding a 4-1 record and a chance to make a statement under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football. Instead, they left with a sobering 30-17 defeat — a game marked by extended drives, missed red-zone chances, and mounting frustration.

Afterward, quarterback Jared Goff didn’t assign blame or make excuses. He owned the loss outright.“

We Had to Finish — and We Didn’t”

Throughout much of the game, Detroit effectively moved the ball between the 20-yard lines. The run game showed flashes of dominance, and the passing attack connected intermittently. Yet, when it came to sealing drives, the Lions stalled, settling for field goals or punting away scoring chances.

“I thought we moved the ball fairly well,” Goff said. “We had limited possessions, and so did they. Both sides were playing that long-drive style, and when you do that, you’ve got to finish. You’ve got to put touchdowns on the board — they did, and we didn’t.”

Detroit’s opening drive nearly resulted in a trick-play touchdown that could’ve set the tone early, but an illegal motion penalty erased the score. Instead of seven points, the Lions had to settle for three — a pattern that would define the evening.

Goff acknowledged that against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, efficiency is not optional — it’s mandatory.

“That first drive, getting a touchdown would’ve been huge,” he said. “Field goals just don’t cut it in those spots.”

The Lions’ offensive flow broke down in the second half. A few quick three-and-outs swung momentum toward Kansas City, and Mahomes capitalized.

Goff didn’t try to gloss over the problem.

“If you’re going to play that long-possession game, you’ve got to finish them off, and they did it better than we did.”

Goff Stands by His Teammates

While fans and commentators pointed to the nullified touchdown or Amon-Ra St. Brown’s rare drop on fourth-and-two, Goff avoided finger-pointing. He supported his teammates and emphasized shared responsibility.

“That never happens,” he said about St. Brown’s drop. “He knows he wants that one back, but it’s not something we’ll dwell on.”

Even when asked about the officiating on the wiped-out play, Goff turned attention to execution instead of controversy.

“It was a cool design that would’ve been fun to hit,” he said. “But that’s not why we lost. There were a lot of plays they made that we didn’t.”

Detroit’s Offense Must Regain Its Edge

Despite the setback, Goff highlighted some encouraging signs. The running game opened holes, protection held up well, and the offense moved effectively downfield. The issue wasn’t advancing the ball — it was finishing drives.

“We ran it well, threw it well at times,” Goff noted. “But scoring touchdowns to end drives was the difference. They did it; we didn’t.”

That kind of honesty is what’s made Goff such a stabilizing leader. He understands this offense has elite potential — but Sunday showed that precision and discipline matter as much as creativity and talent.

Detroit won’t have to wait long for a chance to rebound. The Lions return home in Week 7 for a primetime matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.

Goff believes this loss can serve as a lesson.

“You take it, learn from it, and get better,” he said. “We’ve got another big primetime game next week, and it’s another opportunity to bounce back and play sharper than we did this time.”