By Moses Joshua 
Quarterback refuses to let doubt overshadow Detroit’s playoff hopes
Goff Pushes Back Against the Naysayers
Despite the Detroit Lions’ playoff path being anything but guaranteed, quarterback Jared Goff is not willing to let fans write the season off. In a Tuesday interview with 97.1, Goff made his frustration clear with those predicting Detroit is done.
“I don’t get to reinstill faith in anyone,” Goff said, H/T Will Burchfield, Audacy. “It pisses me off a little bit to hear that, but we have to win this first one. Pittsburgh at home, we’ll have it in front of our home fans, it’ll be great. Go out there and get that W and hopefully prove a lot of our people wrong.”
Goff’s message was unmistakable: focus on what the Lions can control — starting with their next game — rather than getting lost in external doubt.
The Playoff Road Remains Steep
Detroit sits at 8–6 heading into Week 16, trailing the 9–4–1 Green Bay Packers by 1.5 games for the NFC’s final postseason spot. While mathematically still alive, the Lions know every remaining game is essentially a must-win scenario.
Their remaining schedule is challenging: a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by road contests at the Minnesota Vikings and a Week 18 rematch with the Chicago Bears, whom Detroit has already beaten once this season. Even if they run the table, playoff positioning will also depend on outcomes in Green Bay and against the 10–4 San Francisco 49ers, who currently hold the No. 6 seed and control tiebreakers over the Lions.
One Game at a Time
Goff’s approach reflects a “one game at a time” mentality. While the odds are stacked against Detroit, he remains confident the team can turn doubt into motivation.
“Any hope of making the playoffs starts with Detroit running the table,” analysts note. And Goff isn’t just talking — he’s holding himself and the team accountable, ready to lead them through the critical final stretch.
With Goff at the helm and a focused mindset, Detroit’s playoff push begins with Sunday’s showdown against the Steelers — a game that could set the tone for the Lions’ postseason destiny.