Lions quarterback Jared Goff had an excellent game against the Denver Broncos. Goff threw for five touchdowns in the game, and there was a common denomination to all five. They all came on in-breaking routes.
That’s where Goff thrives, and his ability to connect with receivers breaking from the outside toward the middle of the field is non-pareil. Being able to attack the defense in different layers over the middle realm is an area where Goff is truly elite.
The outstanding Week 15 game against the Broncos is a great example. The force behind Next Gen Stats spotlights just how great Goff was in that capacity in Ford Field last Saturday night.
From Zebra Technologies and their Week 15 media release,
Jared Goff threw all 5 of his TD passes targeting in-breaking routes, the most in a game by a QB over the last 6 seasons. When targeting in-breaking routes he went 14/17 for 195 yards and 5 TDs (+14.9% CPOE). He now leads the NFL in TDs targeting in-breaking routes this season (15).
One week earlier, Goff struggled when the Chicago Bears emphasized taking away those routes and throwing lanes. The Broncos offered no such resistance and it led to Goff throwing for five TDs in a blowout win.