The Detroit Lions emerged as one of the standout narratives in the 2023 NFL season, captivating fans with their performance. Looking ahead, quarterback Jared Goff is advocating for a more positive stance from the Detroit media towards the team.
During his appearance on the Wilbo Trading Cards podcast, Goff expressed his frustrations with what he perceives as a tendency among local journalists to focus on the negative aspects, suggesting that while negativity might drive clicks, it’s time for a shift in narrative to reflect the team’s recent successes.
This commentary came in the wake of a notable exchange Goff had with a Detroit beat reporter prior to the Lions’ NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. The reporter’s remarks, contrasting the Lions’ roster with the 49ers’ “superstars,” prompted Goff to highlight his preference for focusing on his team’s strengths rather than the opposition’s.
“I probably need to drop it pretty soon here because I’m hopefully gonna be in Detroit for a long time, but I have this thing with our local media where they almost like relish in negativity at times,” Goff said, via AtoZ Sports. “And maybe that’s what gets clicks and that’s what sells, but it’s no longer what they need to live in. Like, hey guys, we have a good team.”
Goff clarified that his response wasn’t meant to be confrontational but stemmed from a desire to shift the dialogue towards the Lions’ accomplishments and potential, challenging the notion that the team should be content simply with competing against teams like the 49ers.
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Acknowledging the Lions’ recent successes, Goff believes it’s time for the narrative to evolve beyond portraying the team as perpetual underdogs, emphasizing that with the division win under their belt, the Lions are now the ones to watch.
“We’ve had success. We can be happy about that. We can celebrate that and not have to write about how we’re constantly the underdog,” Goff continued. “No, teams are gonna be gunning for us now. We won the divsion and all that. I’m probably overthinking it in my head just because it’s the chip on my shoulder and the competitor in me.”
While the Lions have enjoyed a surge of positive attention on a national level during their playoff journey, Goff feels that the underdog label no longer suits the team’s current standing. However, he also recognizes that shedding this label could lead to increased scrutiny and expectations in the 2024 season, presenting a new set of challenges as the team aims to build on its recent achievements.
