Former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is 3-17-1 without Sean McVay or Ben Johnson, now of the Chicago Bears, as his play-caller. Moreover, that is not the most telling or troubling trend for the 10th-year pro.
Goff entered the season amid clear remarks from Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell about turning the ball over.
In Week 1 against the Lions’ NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers, Goff did it again, twice.
Ex-Rams QB Jared Goff Continues Troubling Trend
GettyMicah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions.
Goff completed 31 of 39 passes for 224 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in the 27-13 loss, while also absorbing 4 sacks on the day. Goff’s 5.8 yards per attempt (in a one-game sample size) would put him on track for the second-lowest mark of the ex-Rams star’s career.
It would trail only his rookie season with the Rams.
In 135 career games since 2016, Goff has had one-plus pick and taken one or more sacks 53 times, per Stathead, tying him with Russell Wilson for fourth-most in the NFL in that span. Wilson is on his fourth team (New York Giants) in five years. Matthew Stafford is third with 56.
Goff was also under duress, with the Packers judiciously but effectively deploying recent trade acquisition Micah Parsons.
Parsons made a significant impact on the Lions and Goff, in particular.
Van Ness puts Mahogany on skates while Parsons long-arms Sewell into Goff’s lap. Gary cleans up.
According to NFL Pro, “The Packers defense allowed -2 rushing yards on the seven plays with Parsons on the field against the run (compared to 48 yards on 15 runs without Parsons). As a pass rusher, Parsons generated 3 pressures on his 17 pass rushes, including a pressure that helped force an interception as well as a sack after beating a double team. Jared Goff got rid of the ball more than half a second quicker when Parsons was on the field (2.80 seconds) compared to off the field (3.36 seconds).”
Jared Goff Roasted After Lions’ Week 1 Loss
GettyJared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions is sacked against the Green Bay Packers.
With a new OC in John Morton, Goff and the Lions had growing pains in Week 1, and the former Rams QB landed on the wrong side of several jokes.
“Jared Goff handles pressure about as poorly as any good QB in the league,” “Locked On Cowboys” host Marcus Mosher posted on X on September 7 amid the Lions QB’s tumultuous day on the field.
FanDuel Sportsbook compared Goff to former New York Jets QB Neil O’Donnell.
Jared Goff without Ben Johnson:
The difference is that O’Donnell’s unconventional method was intentional and led to a win for his ball club.
Goff called for “urgency” to improve, and the Lions were surrendering hurries to several Packers players throughout the day. Still, the performance undercuts Goff’s broader statistical production and underscores the negative narrative that has persisted since his Rams tenure.
Sean McVay Primed to Continue Troubling Trend for Jared Goff
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on during the game against the Houston Texans.
The Rams will not see Parsons and the Packers this season, at least not before the playoffs begin. They will, however, see Goff and the Lions for a Week 15 tilt in LA. A lot will have changed by then, but the Rams may be confident that Goff will not.
Goff may be the victim of poor pass protection as much as any QB, and a “wild” coincidence.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is one of three of his former offensive coordinators, who are now head coaches in the NFC North, meaning they know his tendencies better than most.
The same is true for the Rams with McVay, who expressed sentiment similar to Campbell’s about Goff and the consistent negative plays, albeit with more frustration than his in-conference counterpart.
Former Rams QB Jared Goff Under Fire as Troubling Trend Continues