Tag: Baltimore Ravens

Lions ‘elite’ QB Jared Goff draws praise then goes back to work

ALLEN PARK — Jared Goff’s performance in the win over the Bears was not a shock to anyone. That includes David Shaw, the Lions passing game coordinator.

“He’s worked extremely hard in his career, he works hard every single week, every single day. He pushed himself, he pushed his team, his teammates so they can go out and perform like that,’’ Shaw said on Thursday. “That’s his standard and it’s our job as coaches to give him the information and opportunity to play up to his standard. I’m glad he’s on my team.’’

While it’s Shaw’s first season with the Lions, he’s watched Goff play since high school at Marin Catholic while Shaw was head coach down the road at Stanford.

“He’s one of those guys that got better every single year. From freshman year to senior year at Cal was amazing,’’ Shaw said. “From rookie year to Year 3 was amazing. From Year 3 to Year 10, every year there’s another tool in the toolbox, everything is a little better — his decision-making and accuracy are at an elite level.’’

In the 52-21 win over the Bears on Sunday, Goff posted his fourth-straight game with a completion percentage of at least 75 percent with at least 25 passing attempts. That ties Tom Brady (2007) for the most consecutive games with a 75-percent completion rate (25 attempts per game minimum) in NFL history. In the win he completed 23-of-28 passes (82.1%) for 334 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions.  He logged his fourth-career game with at least 300 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and a passer rating of 150.0 which  ties for the fourth-most in NFL history.  He passed Bobby Layne (118) for the second-most passing touchdowns in franchise history. 

The Lions will need a high-caliber passing game against the Ravens who beat the Lions 38-6 at Baltimore in 2023, the last time they met.

“It really starts up front – I know we said that already, but those guys pass pro like that and it’s going to be tough to stop us. And they did a hell of a job, they really did, and I found open guys and it worked. And yeah, this Monday night, we would like to throw it again like that if we can,’’ Goff said on Thursday.

Of course he remembers that 2023 rout, but both teams are different now.

“Yeah, maybe some motivation value that we just kind of went in there and they took it to us. I think we’ve got a lot of respect for their team and their coaches and the way they’ve gone about their business for a long time, and I’d like to feel they feel the same way about us,’’ Goff said. “But we’ve got to go in there and prove it and show them that we obviously can hang with them and we’re a great team. And in that instance we didn’t, so certainly have a little bit to prove this week.”

 Shaw has faith in Goff.

“Jared Goff is elite. Whatever category that you put together of elite players he’s in that category,’’ Shaw said. 

UP NEXT: Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1), 8:15 p.m. on Monday.

Lions QB Jared Goff confident going against Raiders on Monday night

Goff’s 3 thoughts on Crosby, Gibbs and JMo

ALLEN PARK — Jared Goff, like the rest of the Lions, is not in panic mode because they lost a game — and lost it badly — to the Ravens on Sunday.

The Lions are still 5-2, remain in first place in the NFC North and just have to get back on track against the Oakland Raiders (3-4) on Monday Night Football.

Some fans are quite agitated, but not Goff.

“It’s a rollercoaster outside of our building at times, for every team in the League. It’s no different for us, but in here, it’s pretty ‘steady Eddy’ and ready to respond this week,’’ Goff said on Thursday.

The quarterback said they will learn more about themselves on Monday night.

Five thoughts from Goff:

1. The Raiders defense has been solid in taking away chunk plays. There’s a reason for that. “I think they do a good job of rushing, obviously. We’ve talked about  Maxx (Crosby) a few times,’’ Goff said. “Obviously, him rushing the passer, as well as a few of their other guys that can rush the passer. And they’re good on the backend too, so they’re good at limiting that stuff. It’s going to be our job to try to find them in different ways and see if we can get more than other teams have.”

2. While most of the Lions didn’t play well in the loss, rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs stepped up and showed that he’s quickly maturing into a solid NFL running back.”He can catch the ball in the backfield, we can hand it to him, he can do all sorts of things. He’ll get another big workload this week I would imagine with David (Montgomery) still out. And yeah, it’ll be good,’’ Goff said. Goff said Gibbs is very smart, a quick learner and they’re excited to see him continue to grow.

3. Goff said he just has to keep working with WR Jameson Williams who was targeted six times against the Ravens, but didn’t make a catch and had at least two drops. “It’s so early in his career and his development. I just keep working, keep working with him, building that trust with him and getting on the same page,’’ Goff said. “He’s working his tail off at practice and has done a great job trying to get better every week and I expect to see his development continue.” Williams’ speed is his biggest asset and early on, Goff had to adjust for that speed when passing to him but the two are more comfortable now. “I think I’m past that now where I know his speed and we’ve got a good rapport in that way. But yeah, it’s just getting on the same page with everything and, again, it’s just so early in his career and his development that it’s just reps, it’s just reps, it’s just time and it’s a matter of time before everything starts to click for him in our offense.”

Lions Dan Campbell shoulders blame for loss to Ravens; promises team will be ready to face Raiders

It will be back to fundamentals in practice this week

ALLEN PARK — The disappointment of the 38-6 loss at Baltimore will motivate coach Dan Campbell and the Lions to be ready to face the Las Vegas Raiders on the upcoming Monday Night Football. On Monday, Campbell took 100 percent of the blame for not having the team prepared and promised they will be ready for the Raiders.

“I think what’s disappointing is, losing itself really stings, but the fact we were never even in that game that’s what burns. That’s the burn of it, that more than anything. You just want to know you’re in the fight and when you weren’t that’s a real bitter pill,’’ Campbell said at his Monday press conference.

The Lions were down 14-0 in the first quarter to the Ravens and 28-0 at the half. Detroit’s defense couldn’t handle quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense could never get in a rhythm. 

“You see what it is, when you step back and you look at a number of performances that were very much sub-par across the board it’s not a coincidence. I did not do a good job of getting them ready. I did not,’’ Campbell said. 

“They did everything right over there, we did everything wrong. As good as they played on that side, which they earned that win, we certainly helped them and served it up on a platter for them,’’ the coach added.

Campbell said there’s a need to get back to fundamentals prior to facing the Raiders (3-4) who lost, 30-12, to the Bears on Sunday. He elaborated: “Our one-on-one work, our technique work, good-on-good, one-on-one pass rush, one-on-one man-to-man coverage, one-to-one getting open on routes, our releases, our handwork.

“You hope you got enough fundamentals through camp and you know what, you have to go back to it,’’ he said. “I know that’s where I can help with a little more intensity and urgency which I can deliver myself. I can help these guys, I know I can.’’

Every game is important because it’s the next but Campbell threw in another bit of caution on Monday.

“All I know is we’ve got to bounce back, that’s the most important thing. At the end of the day we’re 5-2, and where we’re going to have a problem is if we back it up with another loss,’’ Campbell said. “To me there’s a ton to learn off this tape for myself, to the coaches and for these players. But we’ve got to own it.’’

NOTES: Safety Kerby Joseph is out of concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit late in Sunday’s loss.. … RB Mohamed Ibrahim dislocated his hip in the game, was taken to Baltimore-area hospital where he was put under anesthesia to put it back in place. He was back at the Lions facility on Monday, but Campbell said he’s in pain and will not be able to play for a while.