Detroit Lions fragility no longer in question. Jared Goff is a big reason why.

Whether it’s residual from the past hardships they’ve endured or simply a product of having a better roster, the Detroit Lions are 2-1 and tied atop the NFC North after three weeks, thanks in part to the resilience they’ve shown on the field.

Unlike past versions of the Lions, who’d often wilt at their first encounter with adversity, this year’s team is in the habit of brushing off the bad things that happen to it in games.

Take Jared Goff’s interception Sunday as a prime example.

The Lions led by 10 points at the time and Atlanta had nothing going on offense. The Falcons needed a jumpstart in the worst way, and seemed to get it with Goff’s INT. They took possession at the Lions’ 43-yard line, their best field position of the day, then quickly went four-and-out to give the ball back to Goff.

He followed with a nine-play touchdown drive that dashed Atlanta’s hopes of a comeback at Ford Field.

“I think more importantly than making the big play every time is how do you respond to the bad ones,” Goff said Sunday. “That’s the most important thing at our position, at quarterback in this league it’s hard, man. You’re going to make mistakes. That’s about as bad as I’ve thrown a ball in my career (on the interception). Just straight missed him. And like how do I respond the next drive, the next play to be as best I can. And that’s where I think you’re truly judged is after the bad plays and being able to respond.”

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Goff showed similar mettle in the Lions’ Week 1 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, when he led a fourth quarter touchdown drive on a day the Lions had little cooking offensively.

The Lions went six offensive possessions between touchdowns in that game and had only three first downs on those drives, but still answered back-to-back Chiefs field goal drives with a grind-it-out nine-play possession for the winning score.

Goff made one of his best throws of that game to Josh Reynolds, under pressure on a third-and-12, that came one snap after a delay-of-game penalty, then converted another third down after coach Dan Campbell weirdly declined a defensive holding penalty that would have given the Lions an automatic first down.

Even in the Lions’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Goff was at his best on the possession after he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, completing 5 of 6 passes and converting a pair of third downs.

The Lions are bound to hit more bumps in the road this season, and some will absolutely cost them games. But their fragility no longer is in question and their quarterback’s steadiness — a trait he didn’t always exude early in his career — is a big reason why.

“I think that’s always been a strength of mine is kind of letting things slip off my back a little bit,” Goff said. “I think as you get older, you realize how much time and work is being put in throughout the week but once you get to game day, it’s not going to be perfect. You’re going to have plays that weren’t exactly how you thought they’d look like and you’re going to have the ball come out of your hand not exactly how you’d hope, and how do you put on the right face and show everyone that doesn’t bother you and be the leader that you say you are?”

Night moves

The Lions are 2-1 in primetime games under Campbell. They beat the Chiefs in their 2023 Thursday night opener and spoiled the Packers’ playoff hopes on Sunday Night Football in Week 18 last season, but lost a Monday Night game at Green Bay in Week 2 in 2021.

Thursday’s game will mark the third straight night game the Lions have played at Lambeau Field, and like last season’s tilt, could have a significant impact on the division and conference playoff races.

Three weeks into the season, both the NFC North and NFC in general are trending toward having two distinct groups of haves and have-nots.

The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are the cream of the NFC, with the Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks heading up the next tier. The Packers could be in that group, too, depending on what type of play they get from their quarterback the rest of the way, and someone has to win the mediocre NFC South.

The Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers are at the bottom of the NFC pecking order — the Bears seem on the verge imploding and it’s not even October yet.

The Minnesota Vikings are the third and final winless team in the NFC, and while they have some glaring holes on their roster, they’re not in anywhere near as bad of shape as their friends in the Windy City. Minnesota has lost its first three games by scores of 3, 6 and 4 points.

Last year, the Vikings were 11-0 in games decided by eight points or less. My, how lady luck has turned.

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QB wins

Quarterback play still rules the NFL, and the Lions are fortunate to be in the midst of a two-month span where they don’t face any of the game’s elite passers. After drawing Patrick Mahomes, Geno Smith and Desmond Ridder to the start the season, the Lions have games against Love, Bryce Young (or Andy Dalton), Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Jimmy Garoppolo on their schedule the next five weeks.

Jackson is a former MVP who’s most dangerous with his feet, and the Raiders have two good receivers in Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers that will be tough to contend with. But that’s five bottom-third-of-the-NFL quarterbacks in a six-week span, with the caveat that Love and Young are still very much in the growing phase of their careers.

The Lions do face Justin Herbert in early November and have games against the sometimes dangerous Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott to end the season, but the schedule is favorable enough that the Lions should be able to work out some of the kinks they’re still dealing with in the back end.

Emmanuel Moseley is closing in on his return from a torn ACL — he was listed a limited participant on the Lions’ estimated practice report Monday, but it seems like a stretch to have him play meaningful snaps this week given the limited practice time he had before pulling his hamstring in early September. If C.J. Gardner-Johnson can make it back from his torn pectoral muscle, the Lions could have their entire projected starting secondary on the field for the playoffs.

Gardner-Johnson posted a video Saturday on Instagram with his right arm in a sling after undergoing surgery. His injury usually requires a three- to four-month recovery, and he needs to be healthy heading into free agency. But it’s not out of the question that he’ll be back around the holidays.

Drop in the bucket

One more thought on the secondary: Both Tracy Walker and Ifeatu Melifonwu did some good things Sunday while starting at safety in place of Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph. Walker had six tackles and one of the game’s biggest hits, and Melifonwu broke up one pass and had a tackle for loss.

Walker also let two picks slip out of his hands, which is a reminder of why he lost his starting job in the first place.

Joseph, who had four picks last season, and Gardner-Johnson (six last season) have excellent ball skills, and the Lions are counting on their secondary to be a playmaking force like it was in their 8-2 stretch late last season.

It’s early, but through three games, that hasn’t been the case. The Lions have two takeaways (more than just four teams) and are tied for 25th with a minus-3 turnover margin heading into Monday night’s games.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.

Next up: Packers

Matchup: Lions (2-1) at Green Bay (2-1).

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. Thursday; Lambeau Field, Green Bay Wisconsin.

TV/radio: Amazon Prime (Simulcast Channel 2 in Detroit); WXYT-FM (97.1).

Line: Lions by 1½.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions fragility no longer in doubt. Jared Goff big reason why.