The Detroit Lions came away with a 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, with quarterback Jared Goff putting on a masterclass performance. Goff completed 18 of 18 passes for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns, finishing the game with a near-perfect passer rating of 155.8.
It was a memorable night for the Lions quarterback, but his performance didn’t meet the requirements to be considered an NFL record.
Jared Goff Misses NFL Record Due to Technicality
While Goff’s performance will be remembered by many, it fell just short of achieving an NFL milestone. Goff’s perfect completion rate wasn’t enough to qualify for the NFL’s record books due to a technicality — he didn’t reach the required 20 pass attempts needed to set the official mark for the best single-game completion percentage.
So, despite the memorable outing, Goff’s name won’t be etched into the history books. Goff’s efficient 18-for-18 performance was just two throws shy of the threshold, meaning his otherwise perfect night won’t be considered among the greatest statistical outings in league history.
Had Goff thrown just two more passes without an incompletion, he’d be in the NFL record books. However, NFL history books don’t make exceptions, and Goff’s nearly historic “Monday Night Football” performance is no different.
Goff can hang his hat on a certain honor, however, as he now wears the crown as the quarterback with the highest PFN QB+ grade since the start of the 2023 season with a 98 grade. Kyler Murray scored a 96 in Week 2 of this season, while Lamar Jackson earned a 96 in Week 17, 2023. Russell Wilson completes the top four with a 96 in Week 4, 2023.
Why Didn’t Jared Goff Get a Perfect Passer Rating in Week 4 vs. the Seahawks?
Many are wondering why Goff didn’t get a perfect passer rating (158.3) despite not throwing an incompletion. This is a bit complex. While some are pointing to the safety that Goff took in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, that is not actually true.
The passer rating formula only considers completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns, and interceptions. Sacks are not factored into the passer rating calculation, so Goff being sacked would not have impacted his rating.
The reason Goff didn’t get a perfect passer rating (158.3) despite an excellent performance with no incompletions and 2 touchdowns likely comes down to the formula’s nuances regarding yards per attempt or how touchdowns are weighted in relation to attempts.
His rating of 155.8 is still extremely close to perfect, and even a small difference in one of the categories (like slightly fewer touchdowns relative to attempts) can prevent achieving the perfect 158.3.
Lions Hand Seahawks First Loss of the Season
In addition to Goff’s impressive outing, the Lions benefited from a balanced attack on the ground. Jahmyr Gibbs led the rushing effort with 78 yards on 14 carries. David Montgomery also contributed 40 yards on 12 carries and found the end zone, providing Detroit with a strong 1-2 punch in the backfield.
Detroit’s receiving corps featured contributions from multiple players, with Goff spreading the ball effectively. Jameson Williams (80 yards) and Sam LaPorta (53 yards) combined for 133 yards in the air, while Amon-Ra St. Brown added 45 yards on six receptions. Tim Patrick chipped in with two catches for 52 yards, and David Montgomery added another 40 yards on one reception.
And, Goff had a touchdown reception for the first time in his career, catching a pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown. Goff also threw a touchdown pass to St. Brown, which means they became the eighth duo in league history to throw and catch a touchdown from each other.
AMON-RA ST. BROWN TD PASS TO JARED GOFF.
📺: #SEAvsDET on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/wuVveVDDHw— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2024
On the defensive side, Kerby Joseph led the Lions with 9 tackles, and Amrik Robertson added 8. Detroit’s defense made key plays when it mattered, recovering a DK Metcalf fumble that helped swing momentum in their favor.
Metcalf was one of Seattle’s bright spots, finishing with 104 yards on 7 receptions. Despite Geno Smith’s 395-yard passing performance, the Lions’ defense held firm when it counted, limiting the Seahawks’ rushing attack and forcing a crucial turnover.
But even with all those standout performances, it would make sense that head coach Dan Campbell would award the game ball to Goff, right? Maybe not.
Reporter: “Can you talk about Jared Goff’s performance? He was a perfect 18-for-18.”
Dan Campbell: “Well, I just gave the game ball to somebody else – so I feel awful right now.” 😂😂😂
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 1, 2024
“I just gave the game ball to somebody else, so I feel awful,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not know he was perfect.”
Kurt Warner had the previous league mark for the passes without an incompletion, going 10 for 10 for the Arizona Cardinals against the Houston Texans in 2005.
But despite it all, Goff was just happy to walk away with a victory.
“It’s a cool thing,” Goff said. “I’m just happy we got the win.”