Nov 14, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) sacks Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) in overtime at Heinz Field. The game ended in a 16-16 tie. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Bad weather was a factor in his struggles on Sunday, but not even an injury prompted Jared Goff to be benched.
Wintry conditions in Pittsburgh, and a ground game that was doing quite well for the most part, were factors in Lions quarterback Jared Goff throwing for just 114 yards on Sunday–his lowest yardage total since 2019.
As the Lions were were working their way to a 16-16 tie, Goff was also dealing with an injury that further limited him.
Goff stayed in despite a rib/oblique injury. The consensus on the sideline was he could play effectively through the issue. Or actually, “good enough to stay in there” was the quote from head coach Dan Campbell.
But the numbers, including 77 net passing yards when accounting for sack yardage and needing a 30-yard completion to Amon-Ra St. Brown to get over 100 before taking lost sack yardage into account, say Goff was even less effective than he has been when healthy this season.
The Lions will probably never bench Jared Goff this season
Heading into two games against the formidable pass rushes of the Steelers this week and the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, it was worth wondering if Goff would emerge unscathed. While he wasn’t rendered totally physically unable to play on Sunday, there was no better time to consider going with David Blough within the current circumstance. No. 3 quarterback Tim Boyle (thumb surgery) has not yet been put on the active roster, but the 21-day window to do so was started last Monday.
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The idea to try Blough for a series when Goff was injured never seemed to be on anyone’s radar. Shy of a ridiculously bad turnover or an unfortunate bad injury for Blough, what’s the worst that could’ve happened? Goff’s job security is rooted in there being no better options to replace him, but it’s not as if he’s that much better than Blough–fully healthy or not.
Lions fans have been resigned to the fact Goff would not be benched this season without an injury. Well, an injury happened Sunday and he remained in the game. So the line has been firmly drawn. Goff will probably have to be carted off the field to be replaced in a game that’s not a blowout loss.