Jared Goff’s performance this season has been nothing short of incredible, yet it feels
I get the frustration. Jared Goff’s performance this season has been nothing short of incredible, yet it feels like people are overlooking that. A passer rating of 111.8, 4,629 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions over 17 games – those are MVP-caliber numbers, period. For context, Tom Brady won the 2017 MVP with a slightly lower passer rating (102.8) and 32 touchdowns. That’s not a knock on Brady, but it shows how impressive Goff’s numbers are, especially when you consider the challenges he faced.
Did Goff have the perfect game every time? No. But let’s talk about what he was up against. The defense gave up 45 points in a game where Goff was expected to lead the offense through one of the toughest situations any quarterback can face. While Goff and the offense were doing everything they could, scoring points and making plays, the defense was constantly giving them right back. That’s a brutal cycle. And let’s not pretend that’s Goff’s fault. It’s not.
This team was decimated by injuries. That’s a fact. The defensive unit was riddled with second and third-string players, making it impossible to play complementary football. The offense couldn’t just rely on scoring — they had to do everything to keep up with a defense that couldn’t hold its own. No team in the league is going to succeed under those circumstances, especially when you’re constantly playing from behind.
Look at the teams left in the playoffs. Check their injury reports. Most of them are healthy or have far fewer injuries to key players than we did. We were playing with a patchwork defense for most of the season, and yet Goff still led this offense to nearly 4,630 yards and 37 touchdowns. That’s extraordinary.
But the story doesn’t end here. Next year, we get healthy. With a more balanced team, we’ll see how dangerous Goff and this offense can be when they aren’t fighting an uphill battle every single game. The Lions will bounce back stronger, and the pieces are in place to make a real run.
So put some respect on Goff’s name. He earned it. We may not have finished the job this year, but next year, we’ll finish. One Pride.
