The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs aren't common opponents historically, but they have played a few times in the last handful of seasons.
In 2019, the Chiefs showed the Lions they were on their way during a shootout 34-30 win. It was the start of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City dynasty that was to become. Detroit were just bystanders for that game, but things would soon change.
By the 2023 season, the Lions were trying to serve notice that they were on their way after a fantastic finish to 2022. The season opener in Kansas City gave them that stage against the defending Super Bowl champion, and they delivered with a clutch 21-20 upset.
No matter what has happened between the teams in the past or what each team looks like this season, there is little doubt that the Chiefs have been the bar in the NFL for at least the last five years. That's a fact that Jared Goff understands well as the leader of Detroit on the field.
As a quarterback, why does Goff think Kansas City has been so successful? He believes it's the franchise's ability to consistently reload and attack each season with the same motivation and passion no matter how much winning has been done the previous year.
"Certainly No. 1 is the consistency over time. I don't know how many AFC Championships in a row (they've made). It's incredible and it's hard to reload every year after playing a long season like that. So I think that's what you respect most is their ability over almost a decade now to reload every offseason and come back ready to go. Always a tough team, always a tough defense for me to face. Obviously on offense, they're explosive as well."
Balance between offense and defense is important, and early this season, the Lions have shown the ability to do the same things amid a sterling 4-1 start. The Chiefs have struggled to a 2-3 record early, but that won't mean anything by the time the game kicks off against Detroit.
Goff believes Lions need to strive to become as consistent as Kansas City
For a team to be able to be winners year in and out, they have to be able to hold themselves to a similar high standard, from the practice field to games. Players have to be pulling in the same direction all the time in order for their franchise to stay on top.
Goff realizes that this level of consistency is hard to achieve, which is why successful teams in the NFL can shift season to season. It's what has made the Chiefs special, and what the Lions need to do to reach the mountaintop in his mind.
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"Consistency. It's hard. It's really hard. You've got to show up to work every day and and try to get better every day and work hard, hold your teammates accountable, hold yourself accountable, and really have to prove it every single day in practice."
The Lions have achieved their own measure of consistency, winning the NFC North two years in a row while making the playoffs over the same span. In spite of that, they must take the next step in terms of major playoff winning. Goff knows that even as good as Detroit has been, they are still searching for that next level which the Chiefs have already discovered.