The Detroit Lions can clinch the NFC North division title with a win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and quarterback Jared Goff is thrilled to think about what the honor would mean for the city.
“I understand how special it’ll be for the city,” Goff said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “Absolutely, we understand that and how long the fans have waited and all that, we certainly understand that, but I think we have to focus on what we can control and that’s this week right now.”
The Lions have not won a division title since 1993 back when they played in the NFC Central—a division that no longer exists.
“It’s really just that, is that a win gets us the division and we understand, we understand, we get it,” Goff said. “I think I’ve said this before, but we don’t carry the weight of the last 30 years here, we don’t. It’s the 2023 Lions and we’re different than last year’s team and the year before and 30 years before that.”
While Goff acknowledges that one day, it will be “extra special” to look back on the 2023 NFC North crown, but right now, he is remaining focused on the task at hand: beating the Vikings.
“I think if we’re able to get it done, it would mean just what it means, which is winning the division and that would be it,” he said. “Now again, we’ve got to go play well and figure out a way to do that this week, but I don’t think we’re by any means considering the magnitude of what it — how long it’s been or that stuff. We’re trying to do our best on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday to find a way to win games.”
Detroit could have a playoff spot locked up by the time it faces Minnesota on Sunday if the New Orleans Saints defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. That would at least guarantee the Lions a Wild Card berth.
Of course, in order to snare their first division title in three decades, the Lions can’t rely on help. They will have to handle business against Minnesota.
Jared Goff is in his third season with Detroit. He has thrown for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 67.1 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 98.2 this year.
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