The Detroit Lions currently sit fifth in the NFC standings through seven weeks. They dominated the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in convincing fashion, shutting down an MVP-caliber quarterback in Baker Mayfield. The team looked outstanding — but quarterback Jared Goff did not look entirely comfortable.
On paper, Goff’s numbers from the Tampa Bay matchup appear solid. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. However, he was sacked four times, lost a fumble, and threw an interception, ultimately canceling out much of his production. Some of that blame goes to Tampa Bay’s talented defense, but the rest lies in Goff’s own errors.
To be fair, Goff has been excellent for Detroit overall. In fact, he’s been so efficient that some analysts have placed him in the MVP conversation — and deservedly so. You’d assume that if Goff has an off day, which has happened more often recently, the Lions would falter. Yet that’s no longer the case. Against the Buccaneers, Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries.
That’s an impressive outing for the third-year back, and it wasn’t an isolated one. Earlier this season, Gibbs averaged 6.1 yards per carry and scored against the Cleveland Browns, further proving his big-play ability. His one-two punch with David Montgomery gives Detroit a dynamic backfield that few defenses can contain.
Montgomery didn’t post big numbers against Tampa Bay, but he remains a dependable option capable of moving the chains and breaking runs when needed. Together, Gibbs and Montgomery form the foundation of Detroit’s offense. Even when Goff isn’t at his best, this team can still win with its rushing attack.
Statistically, Goff’s season is still strong. He’s thrown for more than 1,600 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only three interceptions while completing nearly 75% of his passes. Still, Pro Football Focus has him graded at just 66.5 for 2025 — a noticeable drop from 78.8 last year and 85.6 in 2023.
The former No. 1 overall pick remains a quality quarterback, but inconsistent wide receiver play and offensive line issues have exposed some flaws. Normally, that kind of pressure and turnover risk would derail an offense. But for Detroit, their elite running game prevents that from happening.
Offensively, the Lions can lean on the ground attack, which may be the best in the NFC — if not the entire league. Defensively, they boast one of football’s top units, anchored by Aidan Hutchinson and Jack Campbell. This roster doesn’t need its quarterback to be flawless to succeed; it’s built to win in multiple ways.
That’s precisely why the rest of the NFC should be concerned. Despite holding the fifth seed right now, the Lions have the balance, depth, and talent to finish the season near — or even at — the top of the conference standings.
