The Detroit Lions bounced back in Week 8, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 26-14 this past Monday after getting routed by the Baltimore Ravens the previous weekend.
The Lions improved to 6-2 with the win and are tied for the second-best record in the NFL. They are just one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC’s top seed, and former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman said he feels Detroit is a serious contender.
Perhaps it’s their track record, but the Lions are certainly having a hard time making believers out of most fans and media pundits, and their 38-6 loss to the Ravens did not exactly help their case.
However, it’s hard to deny what Detroit has done for most of this season.
The Lions rank second in the NFL in offense and are seventh in defense, so they have been very effective on both sides of the ball. They also have a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on their resume, and aside from the Baltimore loss, they have looked good every week.
Of course, the question is whether or not people feel that quarterback Jared Goff is up to the challenge of leading Detroit on a playoff run.
To err on the side of optimism, Goff has done it before, as he led the Los Angeles Rams all the way to the Super Bowl before ultimately falling to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots back during the 2018-19 campaign. Plus, Goff has been playing some very solid football this season, throwing for 2,174 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 68.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 96.4.
The Lions also added another weapon to its aerial attack ahead of the trade deadline, swinging a deal with the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.
No, Detroit does not have the cachet of teams like the Eagles or the Chiefs, but there is no doubting that the Lions have been one of the best clubs in the NFL through the first eight weeks.
Detroit will have a Week 9 bye before heading on the road to battle the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 12.
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