Tag: Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff walks off the field after losing to the Washington Commanders 45-31 in the NFC divisional round of the NFL playoffs at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Netflix bringing back ‘Quarterback’ for Season 2

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff will star in the second season of the Netflix series “Quarterback.”

On Wednesday, Netflix released the first trailer for the new season, which will stream in July.

The series will follow the three quarterbacks through the 2024 season — a campaign that had twists, turns and heartbreak for each.

Burrow led his team to five consecutive wins to end the season, falling just short of the postseason. He rallied the Bengals to a 9-8 finish after a 1-4 start and seven losses that came by one touchdown or less.

Cousins, in his first season with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a four-year, $180 million contract, was benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. after 14 starts.

Goff quarterbacked the Detroit Lions to a 15-2 season, only to see it come to a stunning end in the NFC divisional round with a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders.

The first season of “Quarterback” featured Cousins, Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota.

In 2024, Netflix shifted gears to “Receiver,” which followed the 2023 seasons of Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

–Field Level Media

Feb 1, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws the ball during NFC Practice for the Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jared Goff, NFC defeat AFC to win Pro Bowl Games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff tossed three touchdowns and two defenders scored on interception returns Sunday as the NFC won the flag football game 56-50 and the overall competition 76-63 at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Fla.

Goff completed 10 of 11 passes for 126 yards, while the Arizona Cardinals’ Budda Baker and Minnesota Vikings’ Byron Murphy each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the second half to end any AFC comeback chances. Goff was named the game’s offensive MVP and Murphy was announced as defensive MVP.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield threw three touchdowns of his own, and New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers scored two TDs on five receptions.

The AFC was paced by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Russell Wilson, who tossed four touchdown passes in defeat.

Coming into the day, the NFC had a 14-7 lead on the overall scoreboard, winning Thursday’s skills events competition.

The NFC increased its advantage and grabbed a 13-6 lead at the flag football game through one quarter of play. Goff threw touchdown passes to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk and Nabers.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow answered with a scoring toss to Bengals teammate Ja’Marr Chase, but Burrow was also picked off by the Lions’ Brian Branch to close the first quarter.

Chase, the league’s leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, finished with five catches for 101 yards and three touchdowns.

The “punt perfect” event was held at the quarter break, and Jacksonville’s Logan Cooke won in a sudden death overtime, making his kick and watching the Lions’ Jack Fox’s effort bounce out. That gave the AFC a 3-0 win in that portion of the event, cutting the overall deficit to 27-16.

The NFC responded quickly, as Goff found Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a short route, and Smith-Njigba split the defense to score from 46 yards out.

The AFC looked in danger of falling even further behind before Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens intercepted Minnesota’s Sam Darnold. That set up Wilson finding the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas for a touchdown, making the flag football score 19-12.

Darnold answered with a scoring pass to Vikings teammate Justin Jefferson.

At halftime, it was revealed the AFC won the “Madden NFL Head-to-Head” challenge, prevailing in a game of Madden 2025. Thomas and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Derwin James defeated Jefferson and the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons to earn the AFC three more points.

Halftime also featured an obstacle course relay, “The Great Football Race,” in which the NFC teammates prevailed to score three points and build their overall lead to 42-25.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye entered the game in the third quarter and immediately introduced some chaos, surrendering a pick-6 to Baker before tossing two quick touchdowns (to Chase and Thomas) to put the flag football score at 31-26.

Mayfield answered with a touchdown pass to 49ers tight end George Kittle to close out the quarter, and then the NFC added three more points by winning the tug of war competition to build a 58-39 lead going into the fourth.

Maye surrendered another pick-6 to Murphy on the first play of the fourth, and the teams traded touchdowns most of the rest of the way.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) talks to offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at practice during mini camp at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Lions GM not worried about Jared Goff in post-Ben Johnson era

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for a career-best 37 touchdowns this season under the watchful eye of then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes doesn’t expect the good times to come to an end for Goff now that Johnson has moved on to become the head coach of the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears.

“Obviously, he was very productive with Ben as a coordinator but he had a lot of prior success before he even got here as well in a completely different system,” Holmes said on Thursday. “I think he’s a better quarterback, a more mature quarterback now than he was then when he had early success. I don’t foresee that. I think the guy’s in his prime. He’s gotten better and better every year. And when I say prime, I think, like, just entering it because he keeps ascending.

“I think every single year we’ve been here, the next year … the levels keep improving. Again, I have a lot of faith in Dan (Campbell, head coach) and I know that he’ll make sure Jared is in a good position.”

Goff, 30, was named a finalist for the Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award on Thursday after completing a career-high 72.4 percent of his passes for 4,629 yards this season.

He joined fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) as well as Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as finalists for the award.

Under Johnson, Detroit boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense this season (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game). The Lions’ points (564) and regular-season wins (15) this season were franchise records.

Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection with 35,058 passing yards and 222 touchdowns in 134 starts with the Los Angeles Rams (2016-20) and Lions.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) speaks with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after the game during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley lead MVP finalists

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got the better of Baltimore Ravens counterpart Lamar Jackson last Sunday when their respective teams battled in the AFC divisional round in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Named finalists for the Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award, Allen will hope to get the better of Jackson, fellow signal-callers Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) and Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and running back Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) when the award is presented at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 6.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL completed voting before the beginning of the playoffs.

Allen, 28, threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns this season and rushed for 531 yards and 12 scores.

Jackson, 28, is vying for his third MVP award (2019, 2023). He threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns this season and rushed for 915 yards and four scores.

Burrow, 28, threw for NFL-best totals in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43).

Goff, 30, threw for 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns this season.

Barkley, 27, rushed for a league-best 2,005 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns.

Barkley, Burrow and Jackson also joined Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase as finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Burrow also is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, joining Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.

Finalists for all eight postseason awards are:

Most Valuable Player
–Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
–Jared Goff, Detroit Lions quarterback
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Player of the Year
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
–Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens running back
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Rookie of the Year
–Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders tight end
–Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders quarterback
–Malik Nabers, New York Giants wide receiver
–Bo Nix, Denver Broncos quarterback
–Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver

Defensive Player of the Year
–Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker
–Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end
–Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end
–Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos cornerback
–T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker

Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman
–Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins linebacker
–Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams linebacker

Comeback Player of the Year
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
–J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers running back
–Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots cornerback
–Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety

Coach of the Year
–Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
–Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
–Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
–Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
–Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs.

Assistant Coach of the Year
–Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
–Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator
–Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
–Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
–Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 18

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With most NFL playoff teams sitting key personnel, Week 18 may not be a great week for putting money down on the traditional betting line. However, with many players looking to make statements, it is a great week to bet on NFL player props.

Of course, with hundreds to choose from, it can be a bit of a chore figuring out which ones to bet on. Here are our top 10 NFL player props (in no particular order) for the weekend’s slate.

Saints vs. Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield, OVER 251.5 Passing Yards at -113 (via BetRivers)

OVER 1.5 Passing Touchdowns at -114 (via BetRivers)

To throw for 300+ yards +260 (via DraftKings)

Mayfield has been in the zone, completing no less than 72.1 percent of his passes in any of the past three games, throwing for more than 251.5 yards in five of his last six games (and in 10 of 16 this season), and recording 2+ passing touchdowns in each of the past four.

Earlier this season, against the Saints, he completed 24 of 36 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns, but he also had three interceptions.

The Saints are in complete disarray. Spence Rattler has been awful, as has been the Saints’ run game. So even if the New Orleans defense gets off to a strong start, it eventually will get tired. Tampa Bay is playing to secure the division title and its spot in the playoffs.

Mayfield is going for blood in this game. He’ll clear 300+ passing yards and throw at least two touchdown passes. Take the OVER on both.

Mike Evans, OVER 100.5 at -135 (via BetMGM)

Anytime First Half TD Scorer at +160 (via bet365)

Evans needs 85 yards to crack 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight season. Winning will come first, but it’s hard to envision a world where Mayfield doesn’t try to help him get there. Evans was held to two receptions (six targets) for 34 yards vs. the Saints in the first matchup. That will not happen again.

If Mayfield targets Evans as often as I expected, Evans will score at least once in the first half.

Vikings vs. Lions

Jared Goff, OVER 280.5 Passing Yards at -115 (via BetRivers)

Sam Darnold, OVER 281.5 Passing Yards at -115 (via bet365)

There is so much on the line in this game — division title, best record in the conference, No. 1 seed, bye in the first round, pride — to say these guys will lay it all on the line would be an understatement.

But that doesn’t mean we can expect the Lions’ secondary to suddenly become good again. No, this game will be a track meet with one team leading the way and the other playing catch-up. Either way, fans can expect both quarterbacks to throw for more than 280.5 yards.

Goff had 280 and Darnold 259 in the first matchup, but the Lions’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries, and with David Montgomery sidelined, Detroit probably will not focus as much on the run game.

Jordan Addison, OVER 63.5 Receiving Yards at -110 (via bet365)

OVER 4.5 Receptions at -150 (via bet365)

6+ Receptions at +140 (via bet365)

Yes, I know Justin Jefferson is the man in Minnesota. So, why am I going with Addison’s props? Sam Darnold has been loving him some Jordan Addison the past six games, targeting him no fewer than six times and for a total of 52. Addison has done his part, catching six or more in four of those games, though he topped 63.5 yards in just three.

Still, his chances of going over that number against the injury-riddled Vikings secondary are solid.

Jahymr Gibbs, OVER 87.5 Rushing Yards at -114 (via BetRivers)

OVER 17.5 Rushing Attempts at -122 (via BetRivers)

The Lions have leaned on Gibbs since Montgomery’s injury, and he responded with 100-plus yards in each of the past two games. He had 23 carries against the Bears when Detroit was interested in controlling the ball and running the clock and 18 last week in a track meet vs. the 49ers.

With the Vikings’ defense more concerned about the passing game, Gibbs should find enough running lanes to clear 87.5 yards. It may take until late in the fourth to get the 18th carry, but he’ll get it.

–Field Level Media

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

Posted on | by Field Level Media

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