LOS ANGELES (News4usonline) Jared Goff came to Los Angeles with the hopes of beating his former team, the Los Angeles Rams. Matthew Stafford, in his first year entrenched as the Rams’ new starting quarterback, wanted to put his 12 years with the Detroit Lions past him.
Stafford achieved his goal. Goff did not. In the end, the Rams-Lions Week 7 game played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, became one that mirrored an intersecting highway. The transition is now over for both players as they take on a different journey with their respective teams after the Rams beat the Lions 28-19.
“I want to have a really good game every time I step out there so there was nothing extra, to be honest with you,” Stafford said. “I just wanted to do whatever we had to do to help us win. And that’s how I kind of approach it every single week.”
Stafford threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and hit a milestone with his 300th career touchdown toss. Goff threw a game-ending interception to Jalen Ramsey that preserved the Rams’ victory.
Goff and the Lions didn’t waste time trying to make their own noise at SoFi Stadium. It took all of the first series of the game for Goff to make his mark.
With defenders coming for him on an obvious third-down play, Goff tossed a short screen pass to running back D’Andre Swift who then took the ball and outraced the Rams defense to complete a 63-yard touchdown. It was Stafford’s turn. No. Stafford would have to wait.
Stafford had to be anxious about his turn. Well, that didn’t exactly happen right away. That’s because Lions coach Dan Campbell and his coaching staff pulled out their bag of tricks and decided to go through with an onside kick.
All this was happening with more than 12 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Lions were playing trick or treat all game. After being stopped on the series from which the onside kick assisted, Detroit punter Jack Fox did his best quarterback impersonation and connected with defensive bak Bobby Price on a pass to give the Lions a first down. They wound up getting a field goal out of the deal.
Just like that, the Lions had a 10-0 lead before Stafford had a chance to get on the field. When Stafford did engage in his first opportunity to be under center, nearly half of the first quarter had been taken away.
Detroit would not get another touchdown for the game as the Rams defense held the Lions to four field goals and made life in the pocket for Goff miserable. Despite absorbing another tough loss (Detroit is 0-7 on the season), Goff reflected on the relationships he built with some of the Rams players and staff.
“I got a lot of memories with a lot of those guys and a lot of lifelong friendships,” Goff said. “We did some pretty special things here in my five years here, so it’s something I’m definitely really proud – what we were able to accomplish while I was with LA. It’s always cool to see that and have guys that mean something to you.”
Featured Image Caption: Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald (99) is coming for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff on this play. The Rams defeated the Lions, 28-19, at SoFi Stadium. Photo credit: Mark Hammond/News4usonline
Dennis is the editor and publisher of News4usonline. He covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, racial and social justice, civil rights, and HBCUs. Dennis earned a journalism degree from “The Mecca” aka Howard University. “I write on what I am passionate about.”