2023-10-19 11:47:00
The Detroit Lions are probably the hottest team in the NFL right now. This is also due to Jared Goff’s top form. The quarterback wasn’t even planned as a long-term solution.
By Kai Esser
There are traditionally successful teams in the NFL. These include the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers. The Detroit Lions, on the other hand, are better known for their lack of success.
In the eyes of many, they “burned” the two Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. Dick “Night Train” Lane didn’t have a happy time with the Lions either.
In 2023, however, everything seems different. The Lions have the best record in the entire league at 5-1. In fact, the Michigan franchise is the only team that is still undefeated after 60 minutes. The only defeat came against the Seattle Seahawks after overtime, when the Lions’ offense was not allowed to touch the ball.
But why are the Lions one of the strongest, if not the strongest, teams in the NFL or at least NFC this season? In addition to head coach Dan Campbell and the defense, which has improved massively, this is mainly due to one thing: quarterback Jared Goff.
There is no question that Goff has outstanding talent. It’s not for nothing – and many people often forget this – that he was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.
However, the burden on Goff’s shoulders was simply too great at the time. The Rams had just moved back to Los Angeles and the expectations for the then young playmaker were higher than they already are as a first overall pick. “There was a lot going through my mind at the time,” Goff later said. Too much, perhaps.
The most important thing about the NFL
Jared Goff: The biggest setback in the biggest moment of your career
Together with Sean McVay as head coach, he reached the Super Bowl in 2018. And the team that averaged 30 points in the regular season only managed a measly three in that Super Bowl. Sure, that can happen against Bill Belichick, probably the best defensive coach in NFL history.
And there was more wrong at the time than just the QB. But in the biggest moment of his career, Goff failed to deliver. What was assumed at the time was irreparable damage to his reputation and self-confidence.
After that, Goff couldn’t find his way anymore. His stats degenerated into average and after the 2020 season, the Rams wanted to get rid of him. And they let him know that too. “Of course that’s not a nice feeling,” said Goff. “If you’re no longer wanted, of course at some point it’s mutual.”
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Jared Goff: From overthinker to doer
In exchange for Matthew Stafford, the now 29-year-old moved to the Detroit Lions along with draft picks. A transaction that would prove to be the best of his career to date.
Even if it took some time to get started. There was no improvement seen in Goff in 2021 or the first half of the 2022 season. However, no one really held that against him. Many experts and fans alike saw him as a bridge quarterback who would lead the offense for two or three years before a promising rookie took over.
But not with the California native. Since game day nine of last season, he has had an impressive 26 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions. Which results in a so-called TD/INT ratio of almost nine. This is outstanding. Not to mention that there were twelve wins from 15 games. Goff doesn’t think anymore, Goff just does his thing.
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Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals are one of the biggest disappointments of the season, with the playoffs a long way off after a 1-3 start. Quarterback Joe Burrow is still not at 100 percent, and the offense is only 31st in terms of scoring after week four. Receiver Higgins, who will become a free agent in 2024 and probably cannot be retained, could also become available at the deadline. A high pick would be possible.© USA TODAY Network
Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders)
Not much is going well for the Raiders in the new season with just one win from four games. Star receiver Adams seems correspondingly dissatisfied and could become an issue for some contenders. However, a top pick would probably be due for the 30-year-old, who will still earn almost $17 million in guarantees in 2024.© ZUMA Wire
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders)
Adams’ position colleague Renfrow, who is tied until after the 2024 season, could also leave. After 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021, the 27-year-old is one of the big losers under head coach Josh McDaniels. In 2022 he had his weakest season to date (36 catches, 330 yards, two TDs), and in 2023 there were only five catches for 52 yards. © 2023 Getty Images
Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The star receiver will not be traded, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garofolo. The 30-year-old was unable to agree on a contract extension with the Bucs and will therefore become a free agent in 2024. Tampa Bay is said to have already signaled to interested teams that the franchise does not want to give him away early. © 2023 Getty Images
Danielle Hunter (Minnesota Vikings)
The star pass rusher could go to the deadline if more wins fail to materialize. Hunter has already recorded five sacks and seven quarterback pressures in four games. It will be difficult to retain him again after the season. According to “ESPN”, the Vikings also tried to sell the 28-year-old early last offseason.© Icon Sportswire
Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers)
After the 0-4 start, the Panthers could gather more assets to build their team around first overall pick Bryce Young. Outside linebacker Burns is the hottest trade candidate after talks over an extension collapsed over the summer. According to “ESPN”, Carolina is said to have rejected two first-round picks and a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams last year. © 2023 Getty Images
Garett Bolles (Denver Broncos)
After the horror start under new head coach Sean Payton, the Broncos could take action at the deadline. One promising player who could leave is left tackle Bolles. The first-round pick from 2017 is under contract through 2024 and has only allowed one sack this season. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Broncos should at least listen to offers.© Icon Sportswire
Jerry Jeudy (Denver Broncos)
The rumors of a receiver trade by the Broncos are not going away either. Jeudy, who will earn a moderate $13 million in the fifth year of his rookie deal in 2024, is likely to have the highest value. According to ESPN, Denver is said to have demanded a first-round pick in return in the offseason. The Carolina Panthers are considered a prospect.© Icon Sportswire
Michael Carter (New York Jets)
After the signing of Dalvin Cook and the recovery of Breece Hall, Carter is now only the third choice at the running back position. The 2021 fourth-round pick is in the third year of his rookie contract and has played little role this season with just four rushes for 23 yards in four games.© USA TODAY Network
Possibly also because the expectations are different. Lions fans are – as stupid as it may sound – used to disappointment and therefore no one seriously expected that the 29-year-old of all people would lead them into the playoffs after twelve years of the Matthew Stafford era. That Stafford only managed to do this three times and was denied a victory.
In Los Angeles, on the other hand, people were more than excited about a new old football location. And even if they hadn’t been, Goff would have had the high expectations for himself. “Giving football back to these people was the biggest thing. I didn’t want to disappoint them,” he revealed. But he didn’t make her lastingly happy either.
Detroit Lions: Ben Johnson, the mastermind in your ear
Similar to McVay with the Rams, the quarterback now also has an offensive mastermind in his ear with the Lions: Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson designs and calls the Lions’ plays. Not that it takes anything away from Goff’s accomplishments, but there are definitely offenses where it would be harder to look this good.
The numbers also prove this. Fourth-most points per game (28), third-most total yards (2,302), fifth-most passing yards (1,618) and seventh-most turnovers in the league (six). Plus one or two trick plays with which the Lions have already been successful.
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The 37-year-old has a good connection with his playmaker, who is only slightly younger. “He plays with incredible confidence and it shows. We’re just trying to put him in the best position to be successful,” Johnson said.
The fact that these are not just empty words is also shown by the acquisitions that the Lions have made not only for their team, but also for their offense and especially their quarterback. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Penei Sewell, Jameson Williams. All of them are high-profile names that have been drafted in recent years.
Detroit isn’t stuck in old-school approaches like the Pittsburgh Steelers or New England Patriots. Most importantly, they put their offense together not in spite of Goff, but for him. Although the quarterback is undoubtedly the most important position on the field, he cannot be successful alone in the ultimate team sport of American football.
Jared Goff: The promising third year – parallels to the Rams time
Goff is currently one of the best performing quarterbacks in the league. Consequently, he should also be in the MVP race. Goff is in the top five everywhere in passes over 20 yards, passer rating, touchdowns, yards per pass, balls completed and passing yards.
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The only reason why so little is said about him is his reputation. If Patrick Mahomes – who, by the way, is not ahead of Goff in any relevant category except balls placed (absolutely, not relatively) – put up these numbers, they would be perceived differently. In addition, Goff won the direct duel away from home in week one (21:20 for Detroit).
But maybe that’s not such a bad thing for the rather humble California Boy Jared Goff. And if you want to draw parallels to his time in Los Angeles, then one in particular stands out: As with the Rams, Goff performs strongest in his third year. The offense runs like clockwork and with Ben Johnson in his ear nothing can go wrong.
Back then, the Rams went to the Super Bowl as mentioned – and perhaps Goff is the reason why the Lions fans can have hope again after a long time.
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Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders)
In week six, Jakob Johnson met his former club from New England with the Las Vegas Raiders. Against the Patriots, the 28-year-old was on the field more often than in the previous week.© 2023 Getty Images
Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders)
In the 21:17 win against New England, Johnson saw 24 percent of all offensive snaps and 40 percent of all special teams snaps. Next week the Raiders will face the Chicago Bears. © Icon Sportswire
Equanimeous St. Brown (Chicago Bears)
It is unclear whether Equanimeous St. Brown will be on the field again. The Chicago Bears wide receiver did not play in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.© 2023 Getty Images
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)
Things went much better for his brother Amon-Ra St-Brown. The 23-year-old, who had to sit out injured last week, celebrated a fantastic comeback.© ZUMA Wire
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)
St. Brown contributed 124 receiving yards, twelve receptions and a receiving touchdown in a 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was also on the field for almost every offensive play (91 percent). A very good week for the German!© ZUMA Wire
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