Jared Goff signed a giant four-year extension during the offseason. But so far, the three-time Pro Bowler hasn’t played anything like a $212 million quarterback.
The Detroit Lions won their season opener in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams despite Goff being limited to 217 passing yards. Goff was intercepted twice and nearly got picked off twice more on Sunday, when the Lions lost to Tampa Bay 20-16.
The Lions will need their quarterback to be much sharper in their first road game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Goff says it’s “uncharacteristic” for the Lions’ offense to have difficulty finishing drives.
“We were able to move the ball. We had quite a few yards,” he said. “I have to do a better job of taking care of the ball on some of those situations and keep us on the field, not put the ball in harm’s way. But overall, we did move the ball pretty well and I think building off that will be the way we want to go this week.”
The Lions haven’t lost two straight since a five-game slide during the first half of their 2022 schedule. Goff expects the Lions to bounce back in similar fashion from their latest setback.
“I do think it’s part of our identity and part of who we are,” he said. “It starts with (head coach) Dan (Campbell) and hopefully trickles down through all the leaders and the captains, but we do respond. We always do, and you never hope to lose two in a row. I think what we’ve done over the last two years is respond in those situations and hopefully do it again this week.”
The Cardinals’ offense, with quarterback Kyler Murray fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered in December 2022, has looked explosive. They’ve already had a dozen plays of 20 or more yards via the pass or rush. Arizona (1-1) is also No. 1 in the league in third-down conversions (58.3 percent).
Murray has thrown four touchdown passes without an interception. First-round draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr., who was held to one reception in his debut, erupted for four catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-10 romp over the Los Angeles Rams last week.
“He’s growing as he goes,” Campbell said of Harrison. “I think you just study what you see on tape, and we know what he is and, look, we’ve got — (CB Carlton Davis III) is an experienced corner. He’s long, he can run, so I like the matchup. And I like TA (CB Terrion Arnold), too. So, he’s getting better and hopefully he doesn’t catch fire against us.”
Keeping the pressure on Murray would help the Lions corners. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a monster performance in which he recorded 4 1/2 sacks.
“He is in a really good scheme; they give him some freedom and he’s got a skill set,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “Wherever he got drafted (No. 2 overall in 2022), you could tell why he got drafted that high.”
Murray isn’t worried about his team feeling content after thrashing the banged-up Rams.
“You can’t be hung over off the success we just had,” Murray said. “This league is âany given Sunday’ and we understand that.”
Detroit has a number of injury concerns. Linebacker Alex Anzalone (concussion), Arnold (illness) and guard Graham Glasgow (knee) didn’t practice on Wednesday. However, top wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (quad) was a full participant.
The Cardinals are in better shape. No one missed Wednesday’s practice, though defensive lineman Dante Stills (shoulder) was limited. Stills didn’t play against the Rams.
