SANTA CLARA — Because the Detroit Lions wrapped up their 40-34 win over the 49ers on Monday Night time Soccer, an unmistakable chant rang out at Levi’s Stadium.
“JA-RED GOFF! JA-RED GOFF!”
It wasn’t so way back that Goff couldn’t resolve the 49ers. Getting into Monday, he hadn’t overwhelmed San Francisco since 2018, shedding six consecutive video games as a member of the Los Angeles Rams and Lions.
After Monday evening, these reminiscences are lengthy gone. Goff obtained his revenge in Santa Clara, finishing 26 of 34 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns because the Lions took down the 49ers due to a prolific offensive show by their signal-caller.
“Pretty surreal,” stated Goff, a Novato native who prepped at Marin Catholic and performed school soccer at Cal. “Our fans have been unbelievable all year at road games. It’s truly remarkable what they’ve done. It’s loud on third down sometimes for the offense. It’s pretty cool. But yeah, it’s very cool for me, being home in front of my family and friends. Having an experience like that is cool.”
Detroit Lions beginning quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers within the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Not so way back, Goff was the red-headed quarterback stepchild of the NFL, rejected by Sean McVay in Los Angeles in favor of veteran Matthew Stafford and banished to Detroit as broken items. Since then, he’s authored a shocking plot twist in his story.
Goff is now indisputably top-of-the-line quarterbacks within the league, and one of many clearest causes the Lions are Tremendous Bowl contenders.
“I know he had a lot of friends and family here,” Lions coach Dan Campbell stated. “So I know in that regard, that meant something. There was a lot that meant something to him. To be able to get a win out here when we didn’t last year. And then the previous history with the Rams.
“But this is a different Jared Goff now. He’s different. This guy has developed and matured, and he’s just stepping into his prime, and he continues to get better and better. He’s playing at an ultimate level right now. Find me a quarterback that’s playing better than him in this league right now. I’d love to see it.”
Detroit Lions beginning quarterback Jared Goff (16) throws in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers within the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Simply final season, Goff and the Lions got here to the Bay Space for the NFC championship recreation and blew a 24-7 halftime lead, in the end shedding 34-31.
This time, there was little question who the higher crew was, nor which crew will be sure it has a franchise quarterback on the rise.
“I feel good,” Goff stated. “I feel like we’re all playing at an elevated level right now on offense. The last handful of weeks, even the Buffalo game that we lost, we scored a lot of points. We’ve been playing well on offense for quite some time.”
When Goff left Los Angeles, he was a two-time Professional Bowler in decline who had fallen out of favor together with his coach. Now, Campbell – and the Lions followers who made the journey to Santa Clara – can’t get sufficient of him.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff #16 after the Lions 40-34 NFL win over the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
“The team we were playing, in San Francisco, this is what ended our season last year,” Goff stated. “And there are a lot of guys on this team that were there last year. We wanted to get one back on them, even though in a lot of ways it was meaningless for them and meaningless for us. But they were prideful out there too. They were trying to beat us as well, and it was a fun game.”
Goff didn’t know precisely what number of household and buddies he had within the stands. However they have been certainly among the many hundreds chanting his identify because the Lions’ win got here into focus on the finish of the sport.
“A lot,” Goff stated of what number of visitors he introduced. “I have no idea how many, but a lot.”
San Francisco 49ers beginning quarterback Brock Purdy (13) talks to Detroit Lions beginning quarterback Jared Goff (16) following the Lions 40-34 win at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
