I am historically a Goff skeptic but have been won over by his improved play over the last year. But I think my long term concern with him that he doesn’t really have a second option in the play when the first playcall doesn’t work is still relevant. I don’t mean going from his first read to his second, which he can clearly do. I mean that when a team blows up the play as called with pressure or coverage, that’s it for Goff. When he presses because his plays as called aren’t there, he makes mistakes that kill this team. Other teams have quarterbacks who have second or even third answers because they have the mobility to keep plays alive.

The Lions can win with Goff but in the modern NFL, there is a ceiling to his kind of play, and it depends so much on the offensive line and how well they keep Goff clean. When they experience injuries and slumps like they have recently, the whole thing falls apart.

I really do think we need to brace ourselves for the Lions decided Goff is their Alex Smith and he gives them a very solid floor but they have legitimate concerns about their ceiling. I think these last few games should be a reminder that it is a legitimate conversation with no easy answers.