Lions QB Jared Goff sends direct message to critics

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff made it known before the season he felt no extra pressure heading into a supposed "make-or-break year" and recently delivered a message regarding whether or not he feels he's silenced critics amid the club's 4-1 start.

"Don’t care," Goff explained, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. "There’s still gonna be some, and there will always be. Even if I’m playing great, if I’m playing poorly, there will always be haters and lovers. Ignore ’em all and keep trying to get better."

Many viewed the Lions in early September as the favorites to win the NFC North division title, and Goff is a major reason OddsChecker gave Detroit -375 betting odds to accomplish that very goal as of Wednesday afternoon. Per ESPN stats, Goff ended Week 5 ranked fifth in the league among qualified players with a 71.2 adjusted QBR, sixth with a 104.4 passer rating, tied for third with 8.0 yards per pass attempt and tied for seventh with nine touchdown passes. 

Goff is only signed through the 2024 season and seems due for a raise that theoretically could come at any point depending on all that occurs before Week 1 of next season. For now, teammates such as defensive back Will Harris are enjoying the 28-year-old guiding Detroit to positive results, such as this past Sunday's 42-24 win over the Carolina Panthers.

"It’s beautiful," Harris said about his QB1. "It’s crazy. The defense, we’re always sitting on the sidelines, we’re like, 'Whoa, what?' It’s crazy, (the) guy’s a baller. He’s competitive. He don’t take nothing either, man. He’s a real leader. Definitely a blessing to have him out there."

As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Lions as three-point favorites to defeat the 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Florida this coming Sunday.