Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was under no illusions about his team’s performance on Saturday night as the Super Bowl favorites saw their season end in dramatic style.
The Lions enjoyed a terrific regular season and appeared to be rolling towards a deep playoff run, with many bookies having them as the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
But on Saturday night, the Lions were dismal on both sides of the ball and were stunned by an inspired Commanders team.
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels made Ford Field his own as his Commanders punished the disappointing Lions. He wasn’t sacked once and didn’t throw a single interception as he led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game.
Goff wasn’t so lucky, however, and threw three interceptions as the Lions struggled to breach the Commanders defense, scoring just 31 points to Washington’s 45.
And speaking after the game, Goff pinned the blame on himself, saying the Lions had everything they could have wanted going into Saturday’s game – including the number one seed and home field advantage.
He said: “Had I played better, do we win? Possibly. And that’s the part that will eat me alive for the whole offseason.”
Goff continued: “Just sucks. I wish I could’ve played a little better. Wish I could’ve taken care of the ball a little bit better. Obviously, the pick-six is really the one I’d really like back. That was just a poor decision by me.
DETROIT,MICHIGAN-JANUARY 18: Quarterback Jared Goff (16) of the Detroit Lions speaks at a post-game press interview after an NFL Divisional Round game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The other ones are just sometimes a part of the game. But yeah, it’s on me, I gotta take care of it better. Certainly, would’ve given ourselves a better chance to win had I done that.”
It wasn’t just Goff who wanted to take the blame for Saturday’s defeat, with head coach Dan Campbell insisting he didn’t prepare the team as well as he should have. An emotional Campbell said: They earned that win and we didn’t,” before adding: “It’s my fault. It’s my fault.”
Goff responded to Campbell by saying: “He shouldn’t do that, but that’s who he is. And we feed off his emotion, his energy. He believes in us, and he loves us and he cares for us. He puts everything he has in it for us, as well.
“We’re extremely disappointed in ourselves, as well. That’s a good team, that is a good team, but had we played our best, maybe it’s a different outcome. I don’t know, but you like to think so.”
