Lions’ Jared Goff is on an all-time heater after another big day in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS -- Since 1991, only Peyton Manning had multiple games where he didn’t put a pass on the ground before halftime.

And then there’s Jared Goff, who has now been perfect in the first half three times in the last four games, including completing all 12 passes before halftime in Minnesota. And when the Vikings took back the lead late in the fourth quarter, Goff piloted another game-winning drive in a 31-29 victory on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“See, the word perfect is hard,” Goff said after the game. “It’s a perfect completion percentage, but there’s still decisions that you can change. I felt like I thought I had a chance at it again. Like I felt like halfway through the third, I couldn’t think of one. Of course, right after that, the ball gets batted down. But beside the point. We’re getting guys open, protecting well, hitting them in stride. It’s one play after another, focusing on each play one play at a time.”

Goff was coming off back-to-back games with a passer rating above 150, joining Drew Brees as the only quarterbacks to accomplish the feat in NFL history, and was nearly that good again in Minnesota. He completed his first 15 passes before having an attempt batted at the line of scrimmage in the third quarter and finished 22 of 25 passing overall for 280 yards, two touchdowns, no picks -- his third straight game without a turnover -- and a passer rating of 140.0.

That’s three straight games with a passer rating above 140, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999) and Roger Staubach (1971) as the only quarterbacks to accomplish that.

All told, Goff is completing 73.6% of his passes this season, which trails only Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels. He’s on pace to break the career high he set, wouldn’t you know it, just last season.

In short, Goff has been damn good for Detroit.

“He’s a stud,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “I just got asked a question, like, what did you see? This goes back to what did you see in ‘21, when Brad (Holmes) and I acquired him. What makes it (work)? And the guy’s got arm talent, there’s no question. But it’s what he’s got here (between the ears) and what he’s got here (in the heart). That’s what makes him a dangerous player, and it’s what makes him really one of these guys that you can build around because he’s a winner, man. He will find a way to win. He’ll find a way to put the offense in a position to win the game. He doesn’t get frazzled.”

Goff didn’t get frazzled during a slow start in Minnesota, either. He was sacked on the first two series of the day, and the Lions didn’t move the sticks at all until Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown on the final play of the first quarter.

Then Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a 45-yard touchdown on the other side of the break, and Goff gave the Lions their first lead when he hung tough against pressure on the following series, delivering a strike to St. Brown working up the right seam for a 35-yard TD.

That kicked off a run of four straight touchdowns, the last of which was a third-down pass to Kalif Raymond for a 21-yard score that made it 28-17 in the third quarter.

And when the Vikings did take a late lead on a David Montgomery fumble that was returned for a touchdown, Goff remained unfazed. The Lions got the ball back with 2:32 remaining in the game, and after two more runs by Gibbs, Goff hit Gibbs for 14 yards and then St. Brown for another 16. And just like that, the Lions were in position for a go-ahead field goal at Minnesota’s 22-yard line.

Jake Bates piped the winner with 15 seconds left.

“(Goff’s) reliable,” Campbell said. “I love the guy, man. And once again, he steps up huge for us there on the road, division game.”

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