Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff openly acknowledged his part in the team’s 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. While Goff’s individual performance included completing 25 of 37 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, he felt the outcome was ultimately a team failure.
In a post-game interview, Goff stated, “I know Coach Dan Campbell likes to take ownership of what happens out there, but I thought we were ready to go. We just didn’t play well as players.” Despite throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta on fourth down and connecting with Jameson Williams for a 38-yard score with less than two minutes remaining, Goff felt the team fell short.
The statistics reflected a mixed performance. Although Goff did not turn the ball over, he was sacked five times and faced considerable pressure throughout the game. The Lions struggled on third downs, converting only 29% of their opportunities (5 of 17). Goff emphasized the importance of first and second downs, stating, “We need to convert on third-and-long. That keeps us on the field, allows us to get into the red zone, and to score more points.”
Coach Campbell defended Goff, pointing out that the blame for offensive struggles should not rest solely on the quarterback. “Look, on offense, it takes all 11 guys to get it right — it really does,” he remarked. “One guy can kill you, and that’s what is going on right now.”
This ongoing issue has plagued the Lions’ offense in recent seasons. Campbell noted, “We get out of those by making a play at the right time. We’re just not doing that. The fact we had 17 third downs is crazy — that’s a high, high number of third downs.”
The Lions also faced challenges in their running game. While the Vikings are known for their aggressive defensive strategies, the Lions’ running backs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, managed only 65 yards on 20 carries, with a long gain of 11 yards. Campbell highlighted the impact of the running game on offensive efficiency, stating, “When you can’t run the ball, it is hard to be an explosive offense. Now the quarterback is a sitting duck back there.”
Goff took responsibility for the running game’s performance as well, suggesting that better efficiency on first and second downs could have opened up more opportunities for successful runs. “It all works together — the running game and the passing game aren’t exclusive from each other,” he said.
The Vikings’ defense played a crucial role in the game, sacking Goff five times and applying pressure throughout. Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings’ coach, noted the effectiveness of their defensive strategy, saying, “I thought we moved Jared off the spot. He’s as good as anybody in the National Football League if he can stay clean.”
Defensively, the Lions allowed Minnesota to rush for 142 yards, while quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and added another on the ground. Detroit’s special teams also struggled, allowing Minnesota an average of 32.8 yards per kick return and a critical blocked field goal return of 41 yards in the final minutes.
Reflecting on the game, Goff expressed the need for improvement across the board. “It has been a long time since we’ve had this feeling of playing poorly in all three phases,” he said. “We have a ton of things to fix, but that’s what we do best.”
With several areas to address, the Lions will need to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge on the schedule.
