By Moses Joshua 
With Detroit’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the Lions’ quarterback fires back at doubt and makes one thing clear — this team isn’t done yet.
Doubt Outside the Building, Defiance Inside It
If the Detroit Lions sounded finished after their Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Jared Goff made sure to erase that notion quickly. While fans debated playoff math and worst-case scenarios, the quarterback’s tone suggested something entirely different: frustration mixed with resolve.
Appearing on his weekly segment on 97.1 The Ticket, Goff was told that callers throughout the morning were predicting Detroit would miss the postseason for the first time in three years. The response wasn’t polished or diplomatic — it was raw.
“That’s awesome, that’s awesome,” Goff said. “Thank you, guys.”
The sarcasm was unmistakable. So was the edge.
“It Pisses Me Off”: Goff Takes Doubt Personally
For Goff, the growing skepticism isn’t fuel for self-pity — it’s motivation. When pressed about whether he feels pressure to restore belief among fans, the Lions’ signal-caller was blunt.
“I don’t get to reinstill faith in anyone,” Goff said. “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.”
There was no finger-pointing. No excuses. Just a narrow focus on what’s immediately ahead: Sunday, Ford Field, Steelers in town.
Focused on the Now, Not the Noise
Detroit’s playoff path is undeniably steep. Sitting outside the NFC picture, the Lions need to win out and get help elsewhere. But Goff made it clear the locker room isn’t wasting energy on hypotheticals.
When asked directly if he believes Detroit can beat Pittsburgh and ignite a late-season surge, his answer was immediate.
“Win the first one? Absolutely. We can get this one done, beat Pittsburgh and then go from there.”
It wasn’t bravado — it was conviction. The type that comes from a quarterback who’s been doubted before and understands how quickly narratives can flip.
A Team Still Fighting — Starting Now
Say what you want about inconsistency, missed opportunities, or how thin the margin has become. Inside the Lions’ facility, the belief hasn’t cracked. And if Goff’s words are any indication, the frustration is turning into urgency.
Detroit has three games left. No margin for error. No room for half-measures.
What remains is a quarterback who isn’t interested in hearing that it’s over — and a team determined to make sure it isn’t.