By Sunday 
It’s Week 5 in the NFL, and the Detroit Lions are rolling into Cincinnati with confidence, a 3-1 record, and their sights set on another big win. But this one’s got a little extra spice to it — a familiar face is waiting on the other sideline.
Goff vs. His Former Coach
When Lions quarterback Jared Goff takes the field on Sunday, he’ll be facing someone who knows his game inside and out: Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.
Before Taylor became Cincinnati’s head man, he actually worked with Goff back in 2018 as the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams. That was the same season Goff helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl — and Taylor had a front-row seat to his strengths and tendencies.
Now, years later, teacher and student meet again — but on opposite sides of the ball.
Taylor Still Has Respect for Goff
In his press conference leading up to the matchup, Taylor didn’t shy away from acknowledging the past.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the job Dan (Campbell) and his staff do on offense,” he said. “I coached Jared (Goff) for two years. I’ve got a ton of respect for him.”
That mutual respect won’t stop the Bengals from trying to make Goff’s Sunday uncomfortable. Taylor added that it’s a “tough task” preparing for Detroit’s dynamic offense and that his players will need to handle the “above-the-neck stuff” — basically, the mental prep — early in the week before getting physical on Thursday and Friday.
Bengals Missing Burrow, But Not Confidence
The Bengals are still without star quarterback Joe Burrow, who’s been sidelined through at least early December. In his absence, Jake Browning has stepped up — completing 64% of his passes with three touchdowns and five interceptions. Taylor remains confident in his backup, saying, “I feel extremely confident in Jake Browning” heading into the game.
Still, going up against a Lions team firing on nearly all cylinders is no small challenge.
Detroit’s Power Keeps Rising
According to the NFL’s Week 5 Power Rankings, the Lions have climbed all the way to No. 3 — and they’ve earned every bit of it. Despite a not-so-prolific offensive showing against the Browns, Detroit has stayed disciplined and efficient, taking care of the football and finding ways to win gritty matchups.
Analyst Eric Edholm summed it up perfectly:
“The Lions have enough options and weapons to win a contest such as Sunday’s, and the defense and special teams did enough to step up in a game that was 20-10 entering the fourth quarter.”
All Eyes on Sunday
So here we are — Goff vs. Taylor, former allies turned rivals. The Lions are looking to hit 4-1 and continue their charge toward NFC dominance. The Bengals, short-handed but dangerous, are fighting to stay afloat in a tough conference.
It’s not just another regular-season game. It’s a reunion, a chess match, and a proving ground — all rolled into one.
Sunday’s going to be a good one. Buckle up, Lions fans.