Tag: Goff

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

Lions ride Jared Goff’s perfect game to win over Seahawks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jared Goff completed all 18 of his pass attempts, two for touchdowns, and also scored his first career receiving touchdown as the host Detroit Lions defeated the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 on Monday night.

The 29-year-old quarterback had the most completions ever in an NFL game without an incompletion.

Goff passed for 292 yards, including a 70-yard score to Jameson Williams. Amon-Ra St. Brown threw the scoring pass to Goff and also had a receiving touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions (3-1).

Geno Smith had a career-best 395 passing yards with one touchdown pass and one interception for the Seahawks (3-1). His 38 completions and 56 attempts were both career highs, too.

Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III rushed for 80 yards and three touchdowns and DK Metcalf caught seven passes for 104 yards.

Goff completed 12 passes in the first half as Detroit built a 21-7 lead entering the break.

The Lions scored first with a 12-play, 93-yard drive, capped by David Montgomery’s 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Detroit’s next touchdown was set up by Carlton Davis’ 49-yard return of a Metcalf fumble. Gibbs scored three plays later on a 3-yard run.

The Seahawks responded with a 70-yard scoring drive, capped by Walker’s 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 14-7.

The Lions answered with a 70-yard drive that culminated in Gibbs’ 1-yard run.

The Seahawks opened the second half with a 75-yard drive that ended with Smith’s 9-yard pass to rookie AJ Barner. It was the tight end’s first career touchdown.

Detroit used a trick play to answer that score and take a 28-14 lead. Goff handed the ball to St. Brown on an apparent end around. Instead, Goff rolled to the left and caught a 7-yard scoring pass from the wide receiver.

A 29-yard pass to Tyler Lockett from Smith set up Walker’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 3:03 left in the third. Smith’s two-point pass attempt failed.

It took only one play from scrimmage for Detroit to score again. Goff found an open Williams over the middle and the third-year receiver raced into the end zone on the 70-yard play for a 35-20 lead.

Walker opened the fourth quarter with a 21-yard touchdown run.

Goff’s 8-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown with 5:23 left made it 42-27.

Goff was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 2:01 left before Kerby Joseph’s interception with one minute left sealed Detroit’s win.

–Field Level Media

Lions quarterback Jared Goff talks to center Frank Ragnow before a snap against 49ers during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

Reports: Lions award Jared Goff four-year, $212M extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions and Jared Goff have agreed to a four-year, $212 million contract extension with $170 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

Goff, 29, was entering the final year of a contract he signed with the Rams before the 2021 trade that sent Goff to Detroit and Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles.

Goff’s reported $53 million annual average value would rank second in the NFL behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has a $55 million AAV. Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million deal last September.

After Goff took the Lions to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and their first division title since 1993, general manager Brad Holmes said the quarterback had “earned an extension” and negotiations were ongoing.

Detroit worked out new deals for offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown last month.

Goff completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns against 12 interceptions last season while leading Detroit to its first division title since 1993 and its first two playoff wins since the 1991 season.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) talks with head coach Dan Campbell (right) before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Lions GM: QB Jared Goff ‘earned’ extension, a high priority

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Lions general manager Brad Holmes continues checking off priorities in Detroit, and a long-term extension for quarterback Jared Goff is rising to the top of the list.

“He’s earned an extension,” Holmes said in a radio interview with 97.1 The Ticket. “It’s important. It’s a high priority for us. Both sides are working really, really hard. These things just take time.”

Closing in on the final season of a four-year, $134 million contract Goff signed before he was traded to Detroit in the QB swap that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, an extension has been in the works for months.

Holmes hoped to simultaneously share big contract news on Goff last month when the Lions struck new deals with offensive tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“In a perfect world, we would’ve had all three of them done. Bang, bang, bang,” Holmes said. “But these things just kind of take a while. Especially with the quarterback market. But I do have faith that it’s going to get done.”

Talks with Goff’s agent, Ryan Tollner, took a back seat during the NFL draft. Holmes didn’t select a quarterback among the Lions’ six picks but did draft Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in the third round in 2023. Goff turns 30 in October.

A former No. 1 overall pick, Goff averaged $33.5 million annually on his existing contract while the market has exploded since massive deals last offseason raised the bar beyond $50 million per season.

The top-paid quarterback in terms of average pay per season is Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals at $55 million. He has $1.01 million more in guaranteed salary than the Los Angeles Chargers gave Justin Herbert, whose AAV is $52.5 million, in the same neighborhood but just ahead of Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens).

“We’ve done a lot of work. Again, both sides have. We’ve done a lot of work, dialogue’s been consistent,” Holmes said of how close the sides might be to a contract.

“There hasn’t been just dead periods and all that stuff. We’ve been talking. Again, I do have faith looking at all the numbers. You gotta think about what can we do now, and what are the impacts on the future, as well. And we look at all of it, because we said all along, when (coach) Dan (Campbell) and I first got here, we’re looking to build sustained success, and that’s still the goal.”

Goff completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns last season while leading Detroit to its first division title since 1993 and its first two playoff wins since the 1991 season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates after running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) runs for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Lions QB Jared Goff talks contract, determined to stay in Detroit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Lions quarterback Jared Goff embraced helping steer the forever underdog Detroit franchise out of the doldrums and deep into the playoffs last season.

But the future isn’t certain for Goff, who has one year remaining on the four-year, $134 million contract extension he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2109. Goff is due $27.3 million in 2024.

“I love it here and I want to be here a long time,” Goff said Tuesday during media availability at voluntary offseason workouts. “It’s been really special playing in front of these fans. Being able to provide a winning culture over the last year and a half or so. See them experience that and be a part of that has been fun, but by no means are we satisfied.”

Goff recorded a career-best 67.3 completion percentage and threw for 4,575 yards (No. 2 in the NFL) with 30 touchdowns (fourth in the league) and 12 interceptions this season. He is knocking on the door of making his second Super Bowl appearance, with his first coming with the Los Angeles Rams in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Feb. 3, 2019.

While he’s reached cult status in Detroit, Goff didn’t disclose the context of contractual negotiations he said are taking place with the Lions’ front office. Barring injury or a shocking transaction this month, Goff knows he’ll have at least one more season with the Lions.

“I’ve had a ton of fun winning in this city, winning for these fans,” Goff said.

Goff spent five seasons with the Rams after they made him top overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, then was traded to Detroit as part of a deal that involved fellow quarterback Matthew Stafford on March 18, 2021.

Head coach Dan Campbell defended Goff and the perception he wasn’t the quality of quarterback capable of winning the Super Bowl, especially from fans pinning the NFC Championship game loss to the 49ers in January on the quarterback. The Lions coughed up a three-score lead and became the first team to lose a conference championship after leading by 17-plus points at halftime (previously 21-0).

Campbell said this offseason he wanted Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to be “priority” when it comes to contract extensions.

“Those are certainly priorities,” he said last month.

Goff turns 30 in October and could be a measuring stick used for other contract negotiations, including the case of Cowboys soon-to-be-free-agent Dak Prescott. He’s in the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal in Dallas.

–Field Level Media

Dec 10, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with quarterback Jared Goff (16) in the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Lions driven by painful defeat, back Jared Goff

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INDIANAPOLIS — Adamant the Detroit Lions will be back to the conference championship stage on his watch, Dan Campbell vows to learn from the most painful loss of his coaching career last month in San Francisco.

“To me, you should benefit from every loss. I think if the losses don’t motivate you to not lose again, and for sure not lose an NFC Championship game, then something’s wrong,” Campbell said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “To me, that’s the ultimate. You just don’t want to have that feeling anymore. You should do whatever it takes not to want to feel that. Absolutely we’ll benefit from that.”

Detroit won the NFC North and advanced to the conference title game for the first time since 1993, but the 49ers scored 27 unanswered points to erase a 24-7 halftime deficit and win 34-31.

The loss seemed like the likely final game with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on Campbell’s staff. He was a finalist to be head coach of the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. But Johnson surprised both teams by informing them he was returning to Detroit.

“Here’s what I know about Ben: Ben is not — when Ben is focused on this, he’s focused on this. Nothing is going to move that for him,” Campbell said. “Once this item is done, he can close it and then he’ll move on to the next one. … I know this, he’s more than capable of being a head coach. He’s qualified. By the way people have hired in this league before, he’s more than qualified. But here’s what I love about Ben: Ben’s not going to do anything he doesn’t really want to do or that he doesn’t feel like he’s ready for. I’m glad we got him back. He’s one of us.”

Johnson has been vital elevating the performance of quarterback Jared Goff, who wraps a four-year, $134 million deal at the end of the upcoming season. But the Lions are talking to Goff about a new contract now, and Campbell sounds all but certain he’s the right man at the trigger to get Detroit to the Super Bowl based largely on his growth under Johnson.

He has 9,013 passing yards, 59 touchdowns and 19 interceptions the past two seasons. Patrick Mahomes put up 9,433 yards, 68 touchdowns and 26 interceptions — and lost to Goff — with the Chiefs during the same stretch.

Of course, Mahomes has three shiny Lombardi trophies to show for his efforts and is two years younger than Goff.

During his Tuesday media session, Campbell was asked if the Lions can win a Super Bowl with Goff at quarterback.

“I get it because it hasn’t happened yet,” Campbell said, “but I don’t get it because, take the NFC Championship game, I thought he played a good game for us. He gave us a chance to win that. I just feel like, man, since he’s been here, I’ve seen a quarterback that’s gotten better and better and better, and has grown every year, and I would say has gotten better under pressure every year and really just rose to the challenge. He’s more and more confident, he’s more comfortable. So I’ve said this before, to me, Jared Goff is a winning quarterback. You can win in this league with that guy.”

–Field Level Media

January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. (36) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) shake hands after the 2024 NFC divisional round game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Championship Game Betting Primer: 49ers should feel Purdy good

Posted on | by Field Level Media

This may sound surprising, but the San Francisco 49ers needed some good fortune to advance last week — at home — against the Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions looked like a seasoned group of veteran playoff performers in turning back the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

There is no doubting the reasons served up, good and bad, for each winning team. But are the “reasons” actually excuses for the Niners? And aren’t excuses for losers?

We’ll look deeper into the wagering angles for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game and bring forth a game pick and a bonus bet below.

THE HEADLINER

Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers
When: Sunday.
Time, TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, Fox.
Odds: 49ers -7, total 51.5.

Much was made of the correlation between Brock Purdy’s subpar performance and the rainy weather in San Francisco’s 24-21 comeback win.

The 49ers quarterback had issues with his gloves but also because his safety blanket, Deebo Samuel, was missing due of an injured shoulder.

Samuel might not be fully ready by Sunday, but he’s likely to take the decision right up until game time — and the weather will be vastly improved.

The Lions, meanwhile, must depart Ford Field and try to find their magic in a road game.

Detroit added free agent tight end Zach Ertz, who appears to be insurance for the banged-up rookie star Sam LaPorta (nine catches, 11 targets last week).

If this game is close, Ertz can be used in two-tight end sets to enhance the ground game.

Lions coach Dan Campbell enjoys his role as outlier, swashbuckler, daredevil; 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan finally broke his abysmal streak of failing to overcome late seven-point deficits.

If Purdy can get a grip, literally and figuratively, Niners receivers will test Detroit’s secondary, which sits at the bottom of the NFL in allowing explosive pass plays (20+ yards).

The Lions, however, can find success if they continue to run the ball.

The San Francisco defense is not an elite run-stopping group, despite allowing the third-fewest rush yards per game during the regular season.

According to Action Network numbers, the Niners are 28th in rush EPA (Expected Points Added) since Week 9.

Lions backers are asking for yet another stellar performance from quarterback Jared Goff in a game where he’ll likely need to be a leader rather than a game manager.

Can’t shake these numbers, per Action Network:

Goff indoors is 36-17 against the spread and 26-9 against the spread (ATS) over the past three seasons, and this season (14 games) he has 28 passing TDs to eight interceptions.

Outdoors, however, he’s 9-15-1 ATS in December and January, and this season (five outdoor games) he’s produced five TD passes to four interceptions.

He’s been great to this point, and this title game could come down to key stops and turnovers. But this feels like a return to normal for the 49ers, who are poised to turn up the offense.

Another key stat: The Lions allowed only three teams to rack up 400+ yards during the regular season. They’ve allowed it to happen in both of their playoff games — and those were at home.

The public money has been pouring in on Detroit — the feel-good story enjoyed by couch-bound football fans across the country.

According to Vegas Insider, the Lions were the target of 64 percent of the bets, but the 49ers were collecting 55 percent of the money through Wednesday.

That discrepancy tells us we’re on the right track, so we’ll follow the money.

But, speaking of money, temper your enthusiasm if Samuel does not play. The 49ers are 12-1 straight up and 10-3 against the spread when Deebo starts — and finishes — the game.

The bet: 49ers -7.

BONUS BET

Purdy wasn’t great last week, as we’ve outlined. How bad? Actually, not terrible. He threw for 252 yards, and another 24 puts him over the posted total for this week.

Since we’re committed to the Niners winning on a fast track, we’ll parlay that with the San Francisco kicker, Jake Moody.

The bet: Brock Purdy 275+ passing yards with Jake Moody 6+ kicking points (+125 at BetMGM).

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Lions GM: Jared Goff ‘proven’ to be starting QB going forward

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes gave quarterback Jared Goff a strong vote of confidence in his end-of-season press conference Tuesday.

Holmes told reporters the Lions never viewed Goff as a “bridge” to a rookie and credited him for a rejuvenated Detroit offense in 2022.

The Lions missed the playoffs but finished 9-8 for their first winning season since 2017. They ended it on a high note, beating the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in a primetime season finale to block them from the playoffs.

“I think it’s a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better in this league,” Holmes said Tuesday. “So I think what Jared has done this year — he captained the ship of a top-3 offense, and he was top-10 statistically in most of the passing categories.”

Goff finished sixth in the NFL in passing yardage (4,438), tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (29) and 18th in completion rate (65.1 percent) with the second-lowest interception rate (1.2 percent). That was good for the seventh-best passer rating in the league at 99.3.

“And again, you know how we approach the draft. We’re never going to turn down a good football player, so if it’s a football player we love, we’re going to make sure every stone is turned,” Holmes said.

“But I do think that Jared has proven to everybody that he is the starting quarterback for us.”

Goff, 28, arrived from the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. While Stafford and the Rams won a Super Bowl in their first year of marriage, the Lions finished with the better record in 2022.

“I didn’t really have any doubt or waver … I never really deemed him as a bridge,” Holmes said. “I think everybody else did.”

The Lions have the No. 6 overall pick via the Goff-Stafford trade, meaning they have a shot at drafting one of the top quarterback prospects, like Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Detroit also has the No. 18 pick in the first round.

In 100 career starts with the Rams (2016-20) and Lions, Goff has thrown for 25,854 yards, 155 touchdowns and 70 interceptions, completing 64.2 percent of his passes. He guided the Rams to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII, where they lost to New England. His contract, originally signed with Los Angeles, runs through the 2024 season.

–Field Level Media

Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) sacks Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the first half of a 15-9 Detroit win at Ford Field, Nov. 6, 2022. Nfl Green Bay Packers At Detroit Lions

Riled up Lions flip ‘respect’ card talking Aaron Rodgers, Packers

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Playoff time brings out the respect card, and the Detroit Lions deem the deck stacked with disrespect from Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said his message to the team was to embrace playing in games that mean something, but don’t forget we have “nothing to lose.”

The Lions can earn a playoff spot if the Seattle Seahawks lose to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the day. But if the Seahawks win, the Lions are eliminated.

Still, the Packers would be in position to enter the playoffs by beating the Lions, who don’t want to give Rodgers another chance for playoff glory.

“I’m ready to show him — that we don’t have no respect for him. Even though we know he is the G.O.A.T. We don’t have no respect for him, because he has got to play us,” Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs said.

Rodgers said this week he knows Detroit isn’t “the same old Lions,” recalling a loss in the first meeting between NFC North foes this season.

“They were 1-6 at one point and they’ve come all the way back,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers was 14 of 26 for 137 yards and two interceptions in his end zone in a 15-9 loss to the Lions in November.

The Lions have won two straight over the Packers, but Campbell doesn’t want to poke the bear.

“I just don’t see anything different,” Campbell said of Rodgers. “I see an outstanding quarterback who has played and had an outstanding career. I would anticipate he’s going to play one of his best games again. And we always have to be prepared for that.”

Free safety DaShon Elliott hopes to return for Sunday’s primetime game with major playoff implications. He missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, but head coach Dan Campbell said he’s fired up to return.

Elliott, 25, said he has no love for No. 12.

“The way he carries himself, I don’t like none of that s—,” Elliott said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Jared Goff leads streaking Lions past Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jared Goff passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns as the host Detroit Lions prevented the Minnesota Vikings from clinching the NFC North title outright with a 34-23 victory on Sunday.

DJ Chark caught six passes for 94 yards and a touchdown, while Jameson Williams scored a 41-yard touchdown on his first NFL reception. The Lions (6-7) have won five of their last six games.

Kirk Cousins passed for 425 yards and two touchdowns for Minnesota (10-3), while Justin Jefferson caught 11 passes for 223 yards.

A pair of Goff touchdown passes gave the Lions a 14-7 halftime lead.

After the Lions stopped Dalvin Cook for no gain on a fourth down inside Minnesota’s territory, Goff found Williams wide open two plays later on the 41-yard touchdown hookup.

The Vikings answered with a 75-yard drive, capped by Cook, who took a toss from Cousins and scored from 1 yard out.

Kalif Raymond’s 35-yard punt return set up Detroit’s next score. Goff found Chark along the left side on the 48-yard touchdown with 6:34 left in the half.

Midway through the third quarter, C.J. Moore raced 42 yards to the Vikings’ 32-yard line on a fake punt to give the Lions a chance to get a double-digit advantage. A 14-yard pass to Raymond set up Goff’s 5-yard scoring strike to Josh Reynolds for a 21-7 lead.

The Vikings scored on their next possession later in the quarter on a fourth-and-4 situation. Cousins connected with Adam Thielen from 23 yards out. Minnesota went for a two-point conversion and failed.

A 75-yard Lions’ drive made it 28-13 early in the fourth quarter. Justin Jackson capped it off with a 15-yard run.

Jefferson’s 47-yard reception set up Greg Joseph’s 41-yard field goal with 10:47 left.

Michael Badgley’s 41-yard field goal pushed Detroit’s advantage to 15 with 4:06 left.

Minnesota responded with Cousins’ 15-yard touchdown pass to K.J. Osborn.

The Lions burned most of the remaining clock with the help of a 9-yard reception by Penei Sewell on a tackle eligible play. Badgley clinched it with a 49-yard field goal with 17 seconds to play.

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Nate Sudfeld (7) looks to hand off the ball during the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Lions add Nate Sudfeld as backup QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions signed journeyman backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld to be their No. 2 behind Jared Goff.

After cutting Tim Boyle on Tuesday, David Blough was released on Wednesday.

A former San Francisco 49ers backup, Sudfeld, 28, appeared in four games for the Philadelphia Eagles (2017-18, 2020) and was released by the 49ers on Tuesday.

He completed 25 of 37 passes for 188 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said he got “clarity” on the team’s signal-caller situation during a 19-9 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Blough and Boyle were a combined 22 of 47 for 201 yards with one TD and one pick.

–Field Level Media