Jared Goff (Getty Images)
Yes, Jared Goff will play against the Bills. He does not carry any injury designation heading into Thursday’s game. He is fully expected to start under center in Buffalo tonight. The concern on Detroit’s end isn’t about their quarterback at all — it’s about the people blocking for him.
His Week 1 numbers weren’t flashy — he completed 26 of 39 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception against New Orleans — but those numbers were good enough to survive a game Detroit nearly gave away in overtime. The Lions somehow allowed the Saints back in after building a 21-point lead and only held on when it mattered most. Kickoff is Thursday at 8:15 p.m. When these teams met two years ago, Goff threw five touchdowns and finished with 41.1 fantasy points — not exactly what a No. 16 quarterback does.
Still, Goff himself is healthy, available, and going. Not exactly a statement performance. ET at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The storyline everyone keeps circling back to is Goff vs. Allen in prime time. Allen is already being talked about as one of the best players in the league, full stop. Goff, meanwhile, keeps getting slotted outside the top ten despite leading a Lions offense that finished last season as one of the most consistent units in football.
This game is historically significant — the Lions will be the opponent for the first regular-season game ever played at the new Highmark Stadium, giving Detroit a chance to become the first visiting team to win inside it.