Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff could be outperforming his preseason rankings before he even hits the field.
Goff fell outside the top-10 on NFL.com’s initial quarterback rankings this year, but the list is earning some scorn after New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye fell flat in the season opener. Maye has endured a long stretch of bad games dating back to last year’s playoff run, but still managed to rank above the more proven veteran Goff.
One NFL writer is now calling out that ranking in light of Maye’s stumbles against the Seattle Seahawks.
Jared Goff’s Ranking Already Looks Out of Step
SI.com writer John Maakaron took issue with Goff ranking No. 11, a full seven spots behind the third-year signal-caller from New England.
“Maye came in ranked fourth,” Maakaron wrote. “Against the Seahawks, the former No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft tossed three fourth-quarter interceptions, resulting in the Patriots losing their season-opener, 13-10, on the road.”
Maakaron added that the Lions coaching staff has full faith in Goff, and the list-makers should have seen it the same way.
“Dan Campbell and several members of the roster have expressed publicly that Goff is among the most underrated quarterbacks in the league,” he wrote. “While Goff may not be a top 5 quarterback, he likely should be ranked higher than Maye.”
Maye ended the game with a blunder, throwing a ball up for grabs in the end zone that was picked off by the Seahawks, squandering a chance for the Patriots to tie the game.
Jared Goff Looking to Lead Lions Past Disappointing 2025
Goff is on a mission to lead the Lions past the disappointment of the 2025 season and get back to the playoffs. The Lions saw their two-year streak of NFC North titles come to an end and watched a playoff berth slip through their fingers over the final stretch of the season.
Goff said the disappointing ending to the season is becoming motivation to come back stronger in 2026.
“Yeah, I think so. I think it adds a little bit of a chip on your shoulder, but I think we’re pretty internally motivated and want to win a championship and want to be the last team standing,” Goff said, via ESPN. “And I think last year is a bad taste, but we’ve got however many chances in front of us now to go make a right.”
The Lions have a chance to get off to a fast start, opening the season against a New Orleans Saints team that is still rebuilding from a 6-11 campaign in 2025.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, fresh off a big contract extension, said the Lions will be ready and motivated for the start of the season.
“It’s going to be a good game. Every team can win any given Sunday. You know that so we’re not going to take anybody lightly,” Gibbs said. “No matter what record they had. I mean, we didn’t make the playoffs either, so I mean, they probably look at it the same way. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be tough fight, but we look to win every time.”
Lions QB Jared Goff Gets Strong Message After Drake Maye Struggles