The Detroit Lions have done enough to stay in the win column, but not enough to get the kind of attention that usually follows a hot start. Their offense has been electric.
Their defense, though, keeps dragging the conversation somewhere else. And that’s a big reason Jared Goff still feels under the radar in the MVP race.
Goff’s season has been sharp from the start, and Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals only strengthened the case that he belongs near the top of the league’s quarterback discussion. He has 12 touchdowns and 1,485 yards with no interceptions so far this year, a stat line that looks every bit like one from a genuine MVP candidate.
That view isn’t limited to Detroit fans, either. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Goff has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league through five weeks.
"Jared (Goff's) been great this year. Jared is playing in the NFC.
I will tell you the only guys playing quarterback through the first five weeks definitively better than Goff would be Brock Purdy and that's about it. Maybe Bryce Young?
But as far as quarterbacks who have been better through five weeks, I probably would tell you only Brock Purdy I would definitively say."
The Lions will have a chance to make that argument louder after their bye. Green Bay and Minnesota are waiting in consecutive weeks, and if Goff puts up big numbers there - with wins attached - he could make a real move in the MVP debate.
But the problem for Detroit is bigger than Goff’s résumé. The defense has too often been the part of the team that shapes the story. Both losses have come with that side of the ball falling short, and even in wins, it’s been hard for the Lions to escape that image.
Evan Fox, a Detroit fan and producer on the same show, was asked whether it was fair to say the defense needs to turn things around before the team gets proper credit. He agreed.
"The Lions' offense is outstanding. It's just going to come down to if this defense can get any stops at all. (Against the Cardinals) they did that and were pretty dangerous, so we'll see how it goes."
That first-half stretch against Arizona offered a glimpse of what Detroit wants this to look like. The defense strung together stops early, and once the offense settled in after a sluggish start, the Lions took control.
If that balance starts showing up more often, Detroit’s offense can do a lot of damage on its own. But if the defense gives it some help along the way, Goff’s MVP case could start looking a lot stronger.
In Other News...
Former Lions Are Already Giving Detroit Fans Mixed Feelings Elsewhere
A few former Lions are already making their way into the next chapter of the NFL calendar, and the early returns have been a mixed bag for Detroit fans watching from a distance. The offseason shuffle has sent familiar names to new uniforms, including David Montgomery with the Texans, Kalif Raymond with the Bears and DJ Reader with the Giants, giving the Lions fan base plenty of reason to keep an eye on how ex-players are holding up elsewhere.
The picture has been uneven enough to feel personal for a team that invested in some of those pieces and then watched them move on. Some of the reviews have centered on production and health, and one former Lions path has already taken a sharp turn, leaving Detroit followers with a reminder that offseason movement can change quickly once the games begin to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Gave Lions Fans A Needed Laugh Amid Bigger Concerns
After the Lions' 45-21 road win over the Cardinals pushed them back above .500, the mood around Detroit could use a little balance. The offense has given the team plenty to feel good about, but the defense remains an uneasy talking point, sitting last in total defense and passing yards allowed even while leading the league in sacks.
Amid that backdrop, a viral moment from a fan named Marianne gave the fan base something lighter to smile about. Her post caught the attention of Dan Campbell's wife, Holly, who noticed the video and shared it, a small social-media ripple that landed at a time when the Lions could use any bit of levity as they try to sort through bigger concerns on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Face A Deadline Debate Fans Did Not Expect
The Lions already know their secondary could be a talking point by the time the 2026 trade deadline rolls around, and Budda Baker is the kind of name that naturally lands in the middle of that conversation. Detroit has been linked to the idea of adding help at safety, and Bakers situation in Arizona gives the discussion some real shape, especially for a team that may still be trying to balance immediate upgrades with long-term salary cap planning.
What makes the chatter more interesting is how quickly it can move from a simple fit to a bigger roster reshuffle. Any serious run at Baker would force Detroit to weigh how aggressive it wants to be, and once bigger names are added to the board, the price can climb fast. For the Lions, that means the conversation is not just about whether Baker could help, but how far they would be willing to go to make him part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]