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Jul 20, 2026, 12:30 PM CUT

Lions would’ve won the Super Bowl with Justin Herbert instead of Jared Goff, says NFL analyst

Credits: IMAGO

There's no denying the Detroit Lions have assembled one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses. Yet, the biggest prize continues to evade them. Now, an NFL analyst has sparked fresh debate, claiming Justin Herbert would've already delivered a Super Bowl to Detroit over Jared Goff.

On the July 15 episode of Woodward Sports Network's Crunch Time show, co-host Eazy revisited the Lions' decision to draft Jeff Okudah in 2020, arguing that there were better options available.

“If it had gone down in the sense that they drafted [Justin] Herbert instead of Jeff Okudah. Jesus, man, what a f****** ball drop there,” said Eazy. "If I'm just straight up swapping the two players, yeah, I think you're winning the f****** Super Bowl with Justin Herbert over Jared Goff on this team."

Jared Goff

Jared Goff. Image Credits: Allan Dranberg/Imago

However, co-host Spencer Raxter was quick to intervene, saying he didn't agree. According to him, the biggest reason the Lions haven't won a Super Bowl isn't Jared Goff—it's their crumbling defense.

“Jared Goff isn't the reason you're not winning a Super Bowl. I mean, if you look at the Washington game, you could say a different thing, but I think the defense is much, much more of an issue for why you wouldn't win a Super Bowl,” said Raxter on the Woodward Sports Network's Crunch Time show.

The Detroit Lions' defense was one of the league's worst last season, allowing 24.3 points per game. They ranked 22nd in the NFL in 2025, and their crumbling defense was the primary reason for their struggles.

Meanwhile, Goff completed 68% of his passes for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions in 17 games.

On top of that, he earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection last season. While the defense collapsed, he made sure that the offense made up for it.

While he may have been ranked lower than Justin Herbert in the ESPN rankings of top QBs for 2026, the analyst believes Goff will have a phenomenal year.

Analyst predicts Jared Goff’s 2026 numbers

Jared Goff enters the 2026 season with an offense loaded with playmakers, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Isiah Pacheco.

With such an offense-heavy team by his side, Sports Illustrated NFL insider Vito Chirco gave his prediction for Goff's production.

“At this present juncture, I’m willing to predict that Goff throws for 33 touchdowns and 4,551 yards, while tossing just 10 interceptions, in the upcoming season,” wrote Vito Chirco.

Under the able leadership of head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions have posted four straight winning seasons and captured back-to-back NFC North titles. However, a Super Bowl has always slipped through their fingers.

Would you trade Jared Goff for Justin Herbert if it guaranteed a Super Bowl? Let us know your thoughts!

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore