On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will make his 74th straight regular season start and his 78th straight start including the playoffs. That's the second-longest active streak in the NFL for a quarterback, behind only Josh Allen.
The way quarterbacks have fallen to injury so far this season, though it has subsided a bit over the last couple weeks, the Lions' [lack of a good plan](https://sidelionreport.com/case-keenum-s-heroics-show-the-importance-of-lions-nailing-their-qb2-pick-01m3prbh93gn) behind Goff has been exposed. No team easily survives the absence of their starting quarterback, but the drop-off from Goff to Josh Dobbs is as drastic as it gets when it comes to a drop-off from starter to backup.
Goff has generally been protected better than he was last season. But as we always say, all it takes is one awkward hit, one awkward landing, etc. to sideline him for a notable stretch of time. Right now, any games Goff misses can be put in the loss column without hesitation.
It's down the list of areas where general manager Brad Holmes has left something to be desired, but we're still waiting for the "emphasis" he proposed a few offseasons ago regarding the No. 2 quarterback spot.
Jacoby Brissett's audition for the Lions' QB2 spot has arrived
--------------------------------------------------------------
In Week 5 the Lions will take on the Arizona Cardinals. While it's a proverbial "revenge game" for offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, a close look at the quarterback [who should've been on](https://sidelionreport.com/1-player-is-hiding-in-plain-sight-as-option-to-join-drew-petzing-in-detroit-01kh9sxee0tp) the QB2 radar months ago is also here.
Jacoby Brissett was very productive running Petzing's offense in Arizona last season. In four games this season, he has over 275 passing yards or multiple passing touchdowns three times (both once).
With a 1-3 record, and a Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers that's looking less and less impressive, how long Brissett will be the Cardinals' starting quarterback is set to become a question. A growing run of losses, which seems likely to happen, stands to bring a transition to rookie Carson Beck at some point.