Louis Riddick: Lions Will Be 'Major, Major Player' in NFL Playoffs

Detroit Lions could be a factor this season, if the team makes the playoffs.

ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick is among the most vocal supporters of the Detroit Lions. 

Following Detroit's acquisitions in free agency and a draft that saw the team add several young prospects, Riddick believes the team will take the necessary steps forward, namely in the postseason. 

"I believe that Detroit is poised to make a huge, huge leap this year and be a major, major player in the postseason," Riddick explained this week. "And, one of the primary reasons is because I believe Jared Goff has found the (best) situation for him now. I think he is going to take another step this year, and you’re going to see it manifest itself in them being in the NFC title game."

Jared Goff will be entering his second season working with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Additionally, with the added offensive weapons and the development of Jameson Williams throughout the season, Riddick expressed that the veteran is among the top signal-callers in the NFL. 

The former NFL safety expressed, "As much as I love Justin Fields and think he’s going to take a jump, the guy who I would still take is Jared Goff, because of the kind of synergy he has formed with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. When you look at Jared’s season last year, you could subjectively say, ‘I don’t like the guy, (Sean) McVay got rid of him, he’s not a big-game performer,’ whatever.

"If you look at him objectively, as far as all the QB metrics, when you slice it apart, he was nailing it in every single critical category," Riddick continued. "He was top-10 in total QBR, he was second in fourth-quarter QBR, top-10 in red- zone QBR, third-down QBR, QBR in the pocket, QBR outside the pocket. They have got it going on with Jared Goff right now."

With an efficient passing game, a reliable offensive line and a running game with increased explosiveness, Detroit has the potential to live up to expectations and secure its first playoff victory since the early 1990s.