While the Detroit Lions are not yet eliminated from postseason contention, their path to the playoffs is, at best, murky. Despite that, quarterback Jared Goff does not like hearing fans think that the team is done.
In an interview with 97.1 on Tuesday, Goff addressed fans who think that the season is over.
"I don't get to reinstill faith in anyone," Goff said, H/T Will Burchfield, Audacy. "It pisses me off a little bit to hear that, but we have to win this first one. Pittsburgh at home, we'll have it in front of our home fans, it'll be great. Go out there and get that W and hopefully prove a lot of our people wrong."
It's certainly an uphill climb for Goff and the Lions. Knowing that, it's hard to blame anyone for thinking that the season is effectively over. That said, while the path to the postseason is tough, it's not impossible to imagine.
With three games remaining, the Lions are 8-6, which is one-and-a-half games behind the 9-4-1 Green Bay Packers, who hold the NFC's final postseason spot heading into Week 16. If Detroit is going to reach the postseason, its best chance is likely at unseating either the Packers or the 10-4 Chicago Bears, whom the Lions have already defeated once and will play again in Week 18.
The San Francisco 49ers are 10-4, presently hold the No. 6 seed and are assured of winning a tiebreaker with the Lions. They would clinch a postseason spot with a win (or Detroit loss) in Week 16. But if that doesn't happen, a Week 17 matchup between the Bears and 49ers will give the Lions a guaranteed chance to make up ground on someone. A tough Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks then awaits the 49ers.
Certainly, Goff is right. Any hope of making the playoffs starts with Detroit running the table. The Lions will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, then will finish with road games against the Minnesota Vikings and Bears in Weeks 17 and 18.