Jared Goff’s Flawless Performance Propels Lions Past Seahawks, 42-29

Jared Goff delivered a record-setting performance as the Detroit Lions triumphed over the Seattle Seahawks, 42-29, in a Monday night showdown. Goff etched his name into NFL history by completing all 18 of his pass attempts, a feat that eclipses the previous record held by Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, who went 10-for-10 for the Arizona Cardinals in 2005.

Goff’s Perfect Night

Goff’s impeccable display, which included 292 passing yards and two touchdown passes, helped the Lions improve to 3-1 on the season. While Goff did throw one incomplete pass, it was nullified by a penalty, keeping his perfect streak intact. Reflecting on his performance, Goff remained humble, saying, “It’s a cool thing, but I’m just happy we got the win.”

Detroit head coach Dan Campbell was so focused on the victory that he was unaware of the historic accomplishment. “I just gave the game ball to somebody else, so I feel awful,” Campbell admitted. “I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not know he was perfect.”

Trick Play Magic: Goff’s First Career TD Reception

In a game filled with highlights, Goff not only showcased his arm but also caught the first touchdown pass of his career. On a trick play in the third quarter, Goff hauled in a 7-yard pass from All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The duo later made NFL history, becoming the eighth pair in the league to both throw and catch a touchdown from each other. St. Brown also caught one of Goff’s two touchdown passes, a pivotal 8-yard grab in the fourth quarter that extended Detroit’s lead.

Goff has been in remarkable form, setting a personal milestone by completing his first 14 passes in the previous week’s victory over Arizona.

Detroit’s Dominance on the Ground

The Lions’ ground game was equally effective. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs added to the offensive onslaught with two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter, while David Montgomery capped an impressive 10-play, 93-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to kickstart the Lions’ scoring spree. Montgomery finished the game with 80 yards from scrimmage, complementing Gibbs’ 78 rushing yards.

Seattle Struggles to Keep Up

The Seattle Seahawks (3-1) struggled to keep pace, primarily due to an injury-ravaged defense that couldn’t slow down Detroit’s versatile attack. Geno Smith attempted to rally his team, completing 38 of 56 passes for 395 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Seattle’s defensive woes and offensive missteps.

One of the game’s defining moments came in the fourth quarter, when Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald decided to go for it on fourth-and-4 at the Lions’ 39-yard line. A pass interference penalty negated a first-down completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, forcing Seattle to turn the ball over on downs. Macdonald’s aggressive play-calling continued later in the quarter, as the Seahawks went for it again on fourth-and-goal from Detroit’s 3-yard line. Smith’s pass fell incomplete, sealing the Lions’ victory.

DK Metcalf contributed seven catches for 104 yards but committed a costly fumble in the first quarter. Running back Kenneth Walker had a standout performance with 80 yards on 12 carries and a career-high three rushing touchdowns.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, the Detroit Lions are proving to be a formidable force in the 2024 season. Goff’s precision passing, combined with a balanced running game, gives Detroit a dynamic offense that will be difficult to stop. Meanwhile, the Seahawks must regroup after suffering their first defeat of the season, with improvements needed on both sides of the ball if they hope to bounce back.