Lions QB Jared Goff Shows Late Spark, But Early Struggles Prove Costly in Loss to Steelers
In a game that saw the Detroit Lions offense stuck in neutral for most of the afternoon, Jared Goff nearly pulled off a late-game rescue mission. The veteran quarterback put together a flurry of production in the final 12 minutes, leading two touchdown drives and coming close to a third. But despite the late surge, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early inefficiencies in a 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field.
Let’s break it down.
Goff’s final stat line - 34 completions on 54 attempts for 364 yards and three touchdowns - tells the story of a quarterback who found rhythm late. But the first three quarters were a grind. The offense couldn’t find traction, and Goff was part of that equation.
He had a few misfires that stalled drives: a grounded screen pass to Jahmyr Gibbs after what looked like a bad grip, and a low throw to a wide-open Isaac TeSlaa on a crucial third-and-2 - a play that was disrupted when guard Christian Mahogany inadvertently stepped on Goff’s foot. Those are the kinds of small breakdowns that don’t show up in the box score but can derail an entire offensive series.
Then came the safety - a tough moment where Goff took a sack in the end zone that gave Pittsburgh two points and momentum. Add in a couple of batted passes at the line in the fourth quarter, and it’s clear this wasn’t a clean performance from start to finish.
Still, Goff deserves credit for keeping the Lions in it late. When the offense finally clicked, he was the one steering the ship, showing poise and accuracy in crunch time. His connection with his receivers tightened up, and the Lions suddenly looked like a team capable of mounting a comeback.
But in the NFL, three quarters of offensive stagnation usually outweigh one quarter of fireworks - especially against a team like the Steelers that thrives in close games.
Bottom line: Goff wasn’t the biggest problem on Sunday, but he also wasn’t the solution until it was almost too late. There were flashes of the quarterback we’ve seen lead game-winning drives, but the early miscues and missed opportunities helped dig a hole the Lions couldn’t climb out of.
Grade: B-minus.