(FOX2) – The Detroit Lions have started the season strong, defeating a conference opponent and are looking good as they prepare for their biggest game of the season when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.

But behind those storylines lies a less pleasant narrative that Jared Goff and the rest of the Lions will have to contend with over the next few months: competing without Aidan Hutchinson.

“He is everything you want in a teammate and a player. And for something so devastating to happen to him and you can clearly see how upset he was – that's tough,” said the quarterback. “It’s really hard and it’s hard to get over it and keep playing this game.”

Hutchinson, the Lions' star defensive player and an early player of the year candidate on that side of the ball, broke his leg after making contact with Alim McNeil midway through Detroit's win over Dallas on Sunday.

He underwent surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula and is expected to be out for several months.

But with a huge division game now coming up, Goff said the boss said, “Now we have a little more to play for and hopefully he'll be back in our building soon and get back to work.”

MORE COVERAGE: Dan Campbell: Lions don't panic after Aidan Hutchinson's broken leg

After the 47-9 win, head coach Dan Campbell gave his traditional game-winning speech in the locker room. Only this time, Goff flipped the script and returned the favor.

“I think it was special for him to be in Dallas,” Goff said.

Campbell spent part of his playing career as a Cowboy. He's also from the area and after two losses to Dallas in the last two years, getting over the hump meant more, Goff said.

“I think this one meant a little more to him and I just wanted to recognize him for being the rock of our team,” he said. “And I think that sometimes he's underestimated for how much he does for us, and I want to make sure he knows that we appreciate him.”

In return for the work Campbell has put in, the Lions have some of the best offense in the league, scoring more than 30 points per game. That includes scoring 40 points in their last two games against the Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks.

After taking some time to find his groove, Goff sees a team maturing ahead of the most important games of the season.

“I thought the first half of the Arizona game kind of showed who we want to be, and then against Seattle we can do it the whole game, yesterday the whole game again, and that's what I'm going to do. “Try it again,” he said.