On opening night at Ford Field, Jared Goff was welcomed by an electrifying atmosphere as over 65,000 enthusiastic Lions fans cheered for the 2023 season, anticipating a year full of potential.
So far, things are looking up. The Lions secured a 26-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in overtime, even if the game wasn’t as clean as fans – or head coach Dan Campbell – might have hoped.
During our exclusive weekly interview with Goff on Monday, he spoke with FOX 2’s Dan Miller, the voice of the Lions. Goff acknowledged the fans’ energy but admitted that the team’s performance on the field left room for improvement.
“It was a great night, playing in front of our home crowd. The fans brought amazing energy again,” Goff said. “It felt good to get the win, but there’s always room to clean things up, especially after week one. Simple mistakes need fixing, and I expect us to be more focused in our next game.”
Campbell shared a similar sentiment in his post-game address and locker room speech late Sunday night.
Goff, who sat out the preseason games, completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. It was his first game since playing in San Francisco in January, but he dismissed any notions of being rusty.
“I wouldn’t call it rust,” Goff said. “Week one can be challenging across the league with certain things. It’s tough to replicate real-game experiences in practice, but hopefully, it’s just one game with a few hiccups, and we can move forward.”
Goff, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension in the offseason, was quick to praise teammates like Jameson Williams, who had a standout night with 121 receiving yards and a touchdown – a career-high for him.
“Jameson’s put in the work, and I’ve tried to push him hard,” Goff said. “He wants to improve, and it’s been fun to watch him have a big game.”
The overtime win, according to Goff, came down to every part of the team stepping up in crucial moments.
“Our defense really stepped up all day. We started strong, moving the ball effectively and took an early 17-3 lead. The Rams fought back, but our defense made key plays when it mattered most, and we found ways to execute on offense,” Goff explained.
When former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford lost the overtime coin toss, Goff had a clear goal.
“We wanted to score and finish the game,” he said. “We sensed the Rams were on their heels after the previous drive, and they seemed a bit fatigued, which allowed us to run the ball effectively.”
With the season opener now behind them, the Lions are looking ahead to their next challenge against a familiar playoff opponent from last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“They’re playing well, and we’ve got a tough game ahead,” Goff remarked. “I know they’ll be looking for some revenge after last year’s playoff loss, and it’ll be a fun game.”
