Jared Goff has three fumbles, bringing his total for the week to six.
The Rams were so desperate to get rid of quarterback Jared Goff after the 2020 season that they gave the Lions a first-round pick to do so. The Lions have recently discovered why the Rams were so eager to move on.
Goff has six turnovers since Sunday as the Lions try to position themselves for the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance.
He followed up a three-interception performance in a come-from-behind win over the Bears four days ago with a three-fumble performance (a career high) in a Thanksgiving loss to the Packers.
Goff said of his six turnovers, “no rhyme or reason,” according to the team’s official website. “I look at them individually to see what I could have done better, and sometimes there is an answer, and sometimes there isn’t.” But, overall, it is my responsibility to look after the football, and I must do so well.”
He hasn’t in the previous two games. It could have been much worse. On Sunday, Goff had what would have been his fourth interception — and most likely a pick six — dropped by Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson. The Lions could be 7-4 right now if Johnson had held on and not fallen.
They’re still 8-3, which is far better than they’re usually at this time of year. The playoffs are almost certain. Goff needs to play less like the guy the Rams couldn’t wait to get rid of if they want to compete with the Eagles, 49ers, or Cowboys.
READ MORE
Excessive penalties, Bill Belichick’s indifferent press conferences, and the Detroit Lions breaking your heart on Thanksgiving are all things fans have come to expect in the modern NFL.
After narrowly escaping a heartbreaking home loss to the Chicago Bears last Sunday, Detroit was defeated 29-22 by the Green Bay Packers on Thursday at Ford Field. According to Bleacher Report, it was the team’s seventh consecutive Thanksgiving loss, bringing their overall Turkey Day record to 37-44-2 (6-17 in the twenty-first century).
Ending the holiday drought would have been a fitting change of pace for this perennially troubled franchise in a year when they are off to a remarkable start. Unfortunately, their devoted and patient followers were once again served a large slice of humble pie.
In the second half against Green Bay, head coach Dan Campbell’s trademark aggressiveness backfired spectacularly. On fourth-and-4 from his own 23-yard line, he chose to go for it. His deception–a direct snap to linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin–did not fool the Packers as well as it did the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener.
Three plays later, Jordan Love connected with Christian Watson for a game-changing touchdown, giving his team a 29-14 lead near the end of the third quarter. Campbell and Detroit were never the same after that.
So the curse of Thanksgiving Day continues. The Lions (8-3) will try to redeem themselves next season, but they must get back on track right away. If not, a bad holiday will be the least of their worries.
The text was sent by Matt LaFleur early Thursday morning, before the Green Bay Packers had even left their Detroit-area hotel for Ford Field.
Three takeaways from the Packers’ Thanksgiving victory over the Lions
For days, the Packers coach had planned to start his underdog team’s huge, prove-it Thanksgiving Day matchup with an aggressive mentality — and an even more aggressive play call: On the first play from scrimmage, a deep ball from Jordan Love to Christian Watson.
LaFleur, on the other hand, was having second thoughts. So he pinged his quarterback’s iPhone to express his displeasure.
“I was kind of mulling it over quite a bit, (so) I texted Jordan this morning and told him I was going to change it to something else,” LaFleur admitted following his team’s signature 29-22 victory over the Lions — a victory that began with a 53-yard deep strike from Love to Watson that set the tone for the entire day.
“And he stated that he desired this call.” So I replied, ‘OK.'”
It turned out to be more than adequate. Not only did Watson fight to bring the ball down — a stark contrast to the off-his-fingertips drop on the first play of the 2022 season — but the message-sending first play led directly to Love’s 10-yard touchdown pass through the smallest of windows to Jayden Reed four plays later for a 7-0 lead.
It’s game time.
“I wasn’t quite sure where the ball was going to go,” LaFleur added. “I was concerned that we might not have the necessary checkdowns.” But our protection was phenomenal — it was kind of a later developing play to throw a post — and I told Christian right before the game, ‘Hey, there’s a good chance this play’s going to go to you. Simply go up and attack the ball.’ And he did just that.
Love said LaFleur informed him of the play on Wednesday, and that it was part of a larger strategy to take the fight to the Lions — the same team that had jumped out to a 27-3 lead and went on to defeat the Packers 34-20 at Lambeau Field on Sept. 28.
That’s why, after winning the opening coin toss, the Packers took the ball instead of deferring, and why they played so fearlessly despite being so shorthanded due to a string of injuries.
“We wanted to get started quickly. We wanted to start the offense and set the tone. And that’s exactly what we did,” said Love, who finished 22 of 32 passes for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions for a passer rating of 125.5, his season high.
“It was a short week.” I think the coaches did an excellent job of strategizing and game-planning. And, of course, we went out there and executed, bringing the plan to fruition.
There is no denying it. After a four-game losing streak in which the Packers (5-6) looked like a team in rebuilding mode, they’ve now won three of their last four games and are one win away from.500. More importantly, they are one game behind the Minnesota Vikings (6-5) for the NFC’s seventh and final playoff spot.
The Packers can’t get ahead of themselves with six more games to play, beginning with a visit from the defending Super Bowl LVII champion Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 3, and more growing pains to come. The Lions (8-3) continue to lead the NFC North. Given their youth, the Packers’ ups and downs are almost certain to continue.
Only willfully blindness would keep someone from noticing the dramatic shift that has occurred with this green-and-growing team over the past month.
“It definitely feels different,” said Love, who has completed 90 of 138 passes (65.2%) for 1,107 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions (103.1 rating) in his last four games. “I believe it’s all part of the process.” We’re just taking it week by week, focusing on what we can do throughout the week to improve and where we can improve.
Running back for the Green Bay Packers AJ Dillon understands the importance of being the ‘next man up’ on Thanksgiving.
“It’s just a testament to everybody showing up working, staying committed to the process, not complaining that things aren’t perfect so far, but just showing up with that mindset every week that we’re going to work.”
As impressive as that first play was, it took far more than that — and the Packers received contributions from all over the field.
On offense, the line held the Lions’ front seven at bay, not allowing Love to be sacked once; Watson (five receptions for 94 yards, including a crucial 16-yard third-quarter touchdown catch), Reed (four receptions, 34 yards, one touchdown), Malik Heath (four receptions, 46 yards), and Tucker Kraft (two receptions for 15 yards, including his first NFL touchdown) all stepped up with tight end Luke Musgrave (lacerated kidney) and wide receiver Dontay
