By Moses Joshua 
QB Jared Goff opens up on injuries, fourth-down decisions, and the return of Frank Ragnow after a tough Thanksgiving loss.
Settling Into the Game: Goff’s Take on Early Struggles
Despite Detroit falling 31-24 to the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Jared Goff saw positive moments in the Lions’ performance. Reflecting on the first few drives, Goff said,
“Pretty good, yeah. I thought there were good moments offensively, moving the ball pretty well at times. Obviously wasn’t enough and to come up short that way – it sucks, it hurts. You wish you had another chance to kind of try to get another one but yeah mean, it hurts. It sucks. They played well. You tip your cap.”
Goff’s remarks highlighted a mix of frustration and respect for a Packers squad that controlled the outcome late.
Rising to the Occasion: Teammates Step Up
With superstar wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown sidelined by injury, Goff leaned on his other weapons. He praised Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and tight end Tom Kennedy for stepping up in a challenging game:
“Kind of knew it would become Jamo’s game there, really before the game and then when that happens, you really know it. Then (Isaac) TeSlaa I thought stepped up and did a good job. I thought (Tom Kennedy) T.K., he’s going to be unsung hero there being able to step in and know all the stuff – really impressive. It’s still, I guess moral victory that we were able to get Jamo going like that.”
Even in the absence of key playmakers, Goff emphasized the importance of depth and execution.
Fourth-Down Decisions Under the Microscope
Detroit’s aggressive play-calling on fourth downs came under scrutiny after the loss, but Goff stood by the strategy while acknowledging missed opportunities:
“I did. Yeah, I did. I’ve got to connect with (Jameson Williams) Jamo there on the one down in the red zone. That’s, I’ve got to give him a better throw, and he makes the catch. He might score right there and the drive might be over. That’s the one that will hurt me for a while. Then, yeah, they can rip it on their fourth downs and tip your cap. I thought they played really well.”
On improving execution in key moments, Goff added:
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do. You’ve just got to execute in those big moments. That’s really it. I wish there was some magic potion to take to be better on fourth down, but there’s not. I had (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo open, he’s streaming across, I’ve got to hit him. That’s the bottom line.”
Looking Ahead: St. Brown, Ragnow, and Playoff Hopes
Goff acknowledged the challenges of playing without St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta, while remaining optimistic about the Lions’ season:
“It changes some stuff. He’s obviously such a big part of our offense, a lot of it goes through him. So changes a little bit, but not much.”
He also expressed excitement for the impending return of center Frank Ragnow:
“Yeah, a few weeks ago he reached out and had a little interest I think, got that itch again. Yeah, we’ll be excited to get him back… I didn’t know he was coming back for sure a few weeks ago, but I knew he was interested a few weeks ago. Yeah, I’m glad he’s back. That’ll be fun. I don’t know when he’ll end up playing but I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”
Looking forward, Goff emphasized the need to win the next game and continue pushing for a playoff spot:
“Of course, yeah, win the next one. Find a way to win the next one, get to 8-5. Then after that it’s going to be the same answer. So yeah, we know where we’re at. We certainly know that this was consequential for division rankings and whatnot. Yeah, we’ve got to win the next one and find a way to beat Dallas.”
Bottom Line: While the Lions came up short against the Packers, Goff’s comments revealed a quarterback focused on execution, trust in his teammates, and optimism for key returns. Injuries and missed chances complicated the game, but his message was clear: Detroit remains determined to fight for every opportunity in the NFC playoff race.