The Detroit Lions looked far from their usual selves in their 16–9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on November 16. The offense never found a rhythm, the team went 0-for-5 on fourth-down attempts, and frustrations quickly turned toward quarterback Jared Goff.
After the game, social platforms were overflowing with reactions from Lions fans, many of whom placed the blame squarely on Goff’s shoulders. But a closer look at the circumstances and the numbers shows a very different picture.
Fans Shouldn’t Turn Goff Into the Fall Guy
One huge factor that got overlooked: Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties for this matchup, replacing offensive coordinator John Morton. Any sudden shift in offensive leadership can disrupt a quarterback’s flow, and this was no exception.
Despite that change, Goff’s season-long production has been steady, something highlighted by Lions analyst Mike Payton (A to Z Sports). Payton posted his breakdown on X on November 18, pushing back on the narrative that Goff is the issue.
According to Payton, mobile quarterbacks around the league are being sacked at a higher rate than Goff. He also pointed out that Goff owns a better completion percentage under pressure than stars like Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, and Jordan Love, along with the 8th-highest passer rating in the NFL.
Payton also dismissed the argument that Goff struggles in rough weather. Since joining Detroit, Goff has thrown 15 touchdowns to just four picks in cold conditions while completing 64% of his passes.
When it comes to facing winning teams, Payton says Goff’s production is as good as — and sometimes better than — Mahomes’. The point? People’s emotions are overshadowing reality.
His message was blunt: Goff had a rough showing, but acting like that one game represents his entire body of work is unrealistic. Suggesting the Lions should move on from him now, Payton said, is “crazy.”
Lions Fans Respond With Their Own Take
Fans did not hesitate to react to Payton’s post. Some pointed fingers at Campbell’s ultra-aggressive approach, arguing that repeatedly bypassing field goals or chances to flip field position made life hard on both the offensive line and Goff.
Others noted that comparing Goff’s weakest moments to other quarterbacks’ best moments paints an unfair picture. Another fan highlighted how quickly reactions swing: Goff can play at an MVP-caliber level most of the season, yet one off-night prompts some to call him “the worst QB ever.”
Big Picture: Goff Isn’t the Problem
At the end of the day, football outcomes rarely hinge on one player. The Eagles loss was a collective breakdown, not an indictment of Goff alone. Now the Lions shift their focus to the New York Giants, a much easier matchup on paper.
Even so, Detroit will need a stronger team effort moving forward if they want to keep their playoff hopes on track — and that responsibility doesn’t sit solely on the quarterback.
