Lions HC Dan Campbell: Jared Goff 'Needs To Step Up'

The Lions went from the stability of Matthew Stafford at the quarterback position to the enigma that is Jared Goff, and six games in, head coach Dan Campbell says he needs more from his quarterback. Just as we all could have expected.

The winless Lions played hard in the first five weeks, with some close, heartbreaking losses. Then came Sunday afternoon at home against the Bengals. The wheels fell off, and Detroit got pounced by Cincinnati, 34-11. It was ugly, forcing Campbell to evaluate everything.

"I feel like he needs to step up more than he has," said Campbell, during his postgame press conference.

On the surface, Goff's numbers indicate he's played well, with a 66.8% completion rate to go with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. But looking deeper, a large portion of Goff's numbers have come with the outcome already decided. That includes yesterday, when Goff went 28-of-42 for 202 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. It was Goff's worst performance in Detroit, and afterwards, Campbell even suggested that Goff's starting job could be in jeopardy.

When asked whether backup quarterback David Blough would get a look as the starter, Campbell didn't exactly give a ringing endorsement in support of Goff.

"We're going to look at everything," Campbell said.

Things won't get any easier for Campbell and the Lions going forward, as a matchup with Matthew Stafford and the Rams (5-1) at SoFi Stadium awaits them next Sunday at 4:05 p.m.