Jared Goff Placed on COVID-19 List by Lions Ahead of Falcons Game
Dec 20, 2021
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 14: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions passes the ball in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 14, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, putting his status for Sunday's game with the Atlanta Falcons into question.
The 27-year-old has completed 67 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns to go with eight interceptions in his first year with the Lions, which acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in an offseason trade that sent longtime Detroit signal-caller Matthew Stafford to L.A.
Things haven't gone well for the six-year NFL veteran and the rebuilding Lions, who are 2-11-1 thus far.
However, expectations were low for Detroit to begin with this season as the team started from scratch with a new general manager (Brad Holmes), new coach (Dan Campbell) and new quarterback in Goff.
The University of California product has only missed one game due to injury, and that was a Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals to cap the 2020 season.
A broken right thumb sidelined him then, but he was able to return for the team's playoff run, which ended with an NFC Divisional Round loss to the Green Bay Packers.
If Goff is unable to play Sunday, the next man up on the depth chart is Tim Boyle, who made his first NFL start when he suited up for the Lions in a 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 21 in lieu of Goff (oblique).
He completed 15 of 23 passes for 77 yards and two interceptions. It was Goff's first and only missed game of the season as he returned on Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears.
David Blough is behind Boyle on the depth chart. The Lions also have Steven Montez on the practice squad.
Jared Goff, Lions Dominant in Upset of Kyler Murray, Cardinals for 2nd Win of Season
Dec 19, 2021
Teammates congratulate Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) after his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
The race for the NFC West is suddenly a lot more interesting after the Arizona Cardinals were stunned in a 30-12 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.
Since starting the season 7-0, the Cardinals have dropped four of their last seven games. They could fall into a tie atop the division standings if the Los Angeles Rams beat the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (DET): 8 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Nothing is going right for head coach Kliff Kingsbury's squad at the moment. Their offense had 74 total yards with three punts, one turnover on downs and a kneel down in five possessions in the first half.
Kyler Murray had another interception today giving him six in his last five games played.
The Cardinals did start to move the ball in the second half. Their first possession in the third quarter gained nearly as many yards (64) in the first half, but the Lions held them to a field goal.
Arizona's defense, which entered today ranked fourth in points allowed per game (19.4), got dissected by Jared Goff. The Lions quarterback tied his season high with three touchdown passes.
Even though the Cardinals offense found a spark in the second half, the unit was never entirely cohesive.
Trailing 27-6 early in the fourth quarter, Murray found Antoine Wesley in front of the end zone on 4th-and-6 for what would have been a 30-yard touchdown, but Wesley only got one foot inbounds.
After the defense forced a punt on Detroit's ensuing possession, Murray put together his best drive of the game to get the Cardinals into the end zone. He completed seven of 11 attempts for 75 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown to Christian Kirk.
There was only 4:46 remaining in the fourth quarter at the time of that score. Kingsbury burned all three of his timeouts on the Lions' next possession, but a 13-yard pass interference penalty against Marco Wilson on 3rd-and-7 gave Detroit a first down.
Riley Patterson capped off Detroit's drive with a 45-yard field goal to extend the lead to 30-12 with 2:46 left to play. Kingsbury waived the white flag at that point by inserting McCoy at quarterback to run out the clock.
There was a question of what the Cardinals would look like on offense without DeAndre Hopkins. The star wideout is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season to have surgery on a sprained knee, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Hopkins suffered the injury during Arizona's 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.
Kirk did have a season-high nine catches for 94 yards and a score. A.J. Green was targeted eight times but only managed 64 yards on four receptions.
Arizona's offensive line isn't helping matters. Murray was hit four times and sacked twice in the loss.
The Cardinals just went for two down 15 with less than 5 minutes left and got Kyler Murray absolutely obliterated. Kliff is exactly who we thought he was.
Things are only going to get tougher for the Cardinals offensive line with games against the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys in the next two weeks.
The Lions appear to have found something at running back with Craig Reynolds. The 25-year-old had a career-high 112 rushing yards on 26 carries on Sunday after racking up 83 yards on 11 carries last week against the Denver Broncos.
Since going winless in the first 11 games, head coach Dan Campbell's team has now won two of their last three. There's still a lot of work to be done in this Lions rebuild, but he seems to have complete buy-in for the process from this roster.
Lions' Amon-Ra St. Brown on Game-Winning TD vs. Vikings: 'Please Just Throw It'
Dec 5, 2021
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown addresses the media after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught the game-winning touchdown from quarterback Jared Goff in Sunday's victory over the Minnesota Vikings, giving Detroit its first win of the year.
After the game, St. Brown explained the winning play from his perspective to reporters:
"The biggest thing for me was making sure I'm in the end zone as I catch it, and as I broke in, I was wide open, actually. I was like, 'No way.' So I was looking at Jared, I was like, 'Oh, please just throw it.'"
Sunday's game-winning score was the first touchdown of St. Brown's young career.
The rookie receiver continued: "And the ball was in the air, I was like, 'This can't take any longer,' because I know the DB is coming from behind. So I was just sitting there waiting, because I couldn't really attack it. I didn't want to get back into the field of play. I want to stay in the end zone, so once I caught it, I knew the game was over, but I didn't know if the game was over-over, like walk-off over.
"I went to go celebrate, I look back, and I see Coach [Dan] Campbell walking across the field, and I was like, 'Wow, the game is over.' We don't even have to kick the PAT. So it was nice to finally get a win like that."
St. Brown, a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, led Detroit with 10 catches for 86 yards and the touchdown. Goff finished with 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, throwing scores to tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Brock Wright. The Lions are now 1-10-1 this season.
Detroit will face the Denver Broncos (6-5) in a road matchup next Sunday.
Lions' Dan Campbell Dedicates Game Ball to Oxford Community in Wake of HS Shooting
Dec 5, 2021
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell's mind was on Oxford Township, Michigan, after his team's first win of the season Sunday.
Campbell dedicated the game ball from the victory over the Minnesota Vikings to the Oxford community after the deadly shooting that happened at Oxford High School on Tuesday:
Detroit won the game 29-27 on a touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the final play and improved to 1-10-1 on the season.
Campbell and the Lions aren't the only athletes from the state of Michigan who honored Oxford this week.
The Michigan Wolverines wore a patch during Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game with four blue hearts in recognition of the four students who were killed in the shooting: Hana St. Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin, Justin Shilling and Tate Myre.
The patch also had the initials "TM" and "42" to honor Myre, who played football for his school:
Aya Elamroussi of CNN reported at least 30 shots were fired during the shooting. The attack wounded six other students and a teacher in addition to the students who were killed.
Ethan Crumbley has been charged with first-degree murder and terrorism, among other charges.
Jared Goff After Lions' 1st Win of Season: 'We've Just Been Begging for One'
Dec 5, 2021
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 05: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions looks to throw the ball during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 05, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions got their Christmas present a few weeks early.
The team earned its first win of the season Sunday as Jared Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown in the end zone as time expired to seal a 29-27 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Goff said in his postgame interview the Lions had "just been begging for one."
"I don't know if I can put words to it right now... We've just been begging for one. When you get one, you feel what it's like to win."
Jared Goff is nearly speechless after the @Lions win at the last second.
The Vikings took the lead on a touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Justin Jefferson with 1:50 remaining, and it looked like Detroit bumbled its way into an 11th defeat. Campbell's squad had lost five one-score games entering Sunday.
This time, the Lions finally encountered some good luck.
All year they've been slightly better than their record indicated, and their effort level hasn't dropped much as the misfortune piled up. Even if it felt at times as though the football gods were intentionally spiting Campbell, it seemed as though they'd eventually get into the win column.
Now that it happened, the first-year head coach shed a massive weight from his shoulders:
In 2019, the Miami Dolphins lost their first seven games as they embarked on a total rebuild under head coach Brian Flores. They closed out with a 5-4 record over their final nine contests to serve as a springboard toward a 10-win season in 2020.
Maybe Campbell can inspire a similarly strong finish in the Motor City to change the narrative for the Lions in 2021.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew celebrates with fans after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The early slate of NFL games on Sunday had some wild matchups, improbable results and offered clarity on the playoff picture as we enter the final stretch of the season.
Below, we'll take a look at the updated standings and break down all the implications of the day's early and late-afternoon results.
AFC Standings
1. New England Patriots (8-4)
2. Tennessee Titans (8-4)
3. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)
5. Buffalo Bills (7-4)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-5)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5-1)
9. Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
10. Las Vegas Raiders (6-6)
11. Cleveland Browns (6-6)
12. Denver Broncos (6-6)
13. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
14. New York Jets (3-9)
15. Houston Texans (2-10)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
NFC Standings
1. Arizona Cardinals (10-2)
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-3)
4. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)
5. Los Angeles Rams (8-4)
6. Washington Football Team (6-6)
7. San Francisco 49ers (6-6)
8. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
9. Minnesota Vikings (5-7)
10. Carolina Panthers (5-7)
11. Atlanta Falcons (5-7)
12. New Orleans Saints (5-7)
13. New York Giants (4-8)
14. Chicago Bears (4-8)
15. Seattle Seahawks (4-8)
16. Detroit Lions (1-10-1)
Analysis
While there will be more clarity in the playoff picture after Sunday and Monday night—namely in the AFC East, with the Patriots and Bills battling on Monday Night Football for first place in the division—there was certainly plenty to be learned from the early and late-afternoon games Sunday.
The Cardinals, for instance, still control the top overall seed in the NFC after a convincing 33-22 win over the Bears. In fact, the early slate of games didn't change the first four seeds in the AFC or the first six seeds in the NFC in the slightest.
But things sure got interesting from there.
In the AFC, the Chargers' huge 41-22 win over the Bengals bumped the Bills up to the No. 5 seed in the playoff picture after they started the day at No. 6, while the Chargers moved up to No. 6 and the Bengals fell to No. 7.
The wild-card berths are going to come down to the wire. Currently, just 1.5 games separate the No. 6 Chargers from the No. 13 Dolphins, who have now won five in a row.
I saw the #Ravens annihilate the #Chargers. Then I witnessed the #Bengals pound the Ravens. And now the Chargers have taken it to the Bengals. Will someone tell me what circular theorem that is b/c I have no idea... #AFC
And don't sleep on the Colts, winners of six of their last eight.
In the NFC, the current battle for the No. 7 seed got more interesting, as the Eagles bolstered their chances with a Gardner Minshew-led win over the hapless Jets, while the Giants and Bears likely fell out of contention at 4-8 apiece and the Vikings dropped a winnable matchup versus the Lions.
Just one game separates the No. 6 Washington Football Team from the No. 12 Saints. Washington's win, coupled with San Francisco's loss, moved Washington up to the No. 6 spot. Like the AFC, the NFC is all bunched up in the wild-card chase.
As for the "race" to the top overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Lions remain peerless, still holding a grip on the selection with 1-10-1 record. The Texans and Jaguars are trying to make up ground, however, each dropping to 2-10 on the year. They now find themselves just a half-game back of the Lions after Detroit's stunning 29-27 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Jared Goff, Lions Earn 1st Win of the Season on Late Amon-Ra St. Brown TD vs. Vikings
Dec 5, 2021
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Detroit Lions will not go winless this season.
Dan Campbell's squad got its first win of the 2021 campaign with a 29-27 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. On a 4th-and-2 with four seconds left on the clock, Jared Goff tossed an 11-yard touchdown to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to seal the win.
The Lions led the Vikings for most of Sunday's contest, jumping out to a 20-6 lead before halftime. However, Detroit nearly blew it, allowing Minnesota to charge back and take the lead with 1:50 remaining in the game before Goff sent the hometown crowd into a frenzy with his touchdown pass to St. Brown.
The veteran quarterback completed 25 of 41 passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the win. St. Brown was Detroit's best receiver, finishing with 10 catches for 86 yards and a score. T.J. Hockenson and Brock Wright also combined for 77 yards and two touchdowns.
Before Sunday's win, the Lions had been the only winless team in the NFL. They had lost three games on field goals as time expired, including a 19-17 loss to the Vikings earlier this year. In addition, the Lions had not scored more than 20 points since Week 1.
Sunday's win marked Detroit's first victory since Dec. 6, 2020—a span of 364 days. The team is now 1-10-1 on the season.
But while the Lions now have one win under their belt, things won't get much easier for them through the final stretch of the season. Detroit will face the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks before closing out the year against the Green Bay Packers.
The Cardinals (10-2) and Packers (9-3) are Super Bowl contenders, while the Broncos enter Sunday's contest against the Kansas City Chiefs with a winning record at 6-5. And while the Seahawks and Falcons have losing records, they've been much better than Detroit this year.
Regardless, all that matters for Lions fans is knowing the team didn't go winless this year. In addition, they'll still get a top pick in the 2022 draft and will continue to rebuild in the seasons ahead.
Lions to Wear Helmet Decal, T-shirt Honoring Victims of Oxford High School Shooting
Dec 3, 2021
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 01: The Detroit Lions logo on display during a NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Detroit Lions on November 01, 2020 at Ford Field in Detroit MI. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions will honor the victims of the shooting at Oxford (Michigan) High School that killed four students and injured several others.
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters the Lions will wear T-shirts, hats and a helmet decal during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"Those guys are on our minds, so we want to represent them on Sunday," Campbell said. "I know there will be a group of those students and kids and people that have been affected that will be watching this game, so right now, that's the best way to help them."
The Lions will also hold a moment of silence before kickoff.
Four students, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling, were killed, with seven others—six students and one teacher—injured in the shooting.
Ethan Crumbley, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, has been taken into police custody and charged with four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of terrorism causing death and 12 counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
On Thursday, the University of Michigan football team announced its jerseys for Saturday's Big Ten Championship game against Iowa will feature a special decal "to honor all victims, survivors and community members" affected by the shooting, with special recognition of Myre, who was a football player at Oxford High.
Jamaal Williams' Updated Fantasy Outlook vs. Vikings after D'Andre Swift Injury
Dec 3, 2021
Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) celebrates after he rushes for a first down in the first half against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift was officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday because of a shoulder injury, meaning Jamaal Williams will get the start.
Swift has been the most productive Lion on offense this season. He has 984 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns on 196 touches. The versatile dual threat is notably second on the team with 56 receptions and 429 receiving yards behind only tight end T.J. Hockenson.
The 22-year-old, who is in his second season out of Georgia, serves as the team's top running back when healthy, although Williams gets his fair share of looks alongside him.
Swift played in his team's first 11 games before suffering a shoulder sprain in the first half of the 16-14 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day. He had six touches before exiting.
From a fantasy perspective, that game may tell us how Williams will be used moving forward.
The BYU product was the team's clear bell cow as he rung up 15 carries for 65 yards and five catches for 18 more yards against the Bears. Running backs Jermar Jefferson and Godwin Igwebuike were also active, but the latter saw the only usage between the two of them with just one carry for 11 yards.
Perhaps Williams is utilized as a pure bell cow with the backups only used in case of rest or injury. If so, Williams is a solid option to use as a second starting running back if he's bound to get 20-plus looks.
Picking up any other Lions running back doesn't seem like a prudent option at this time given that the team has decided to use Swift and Williams as a two-headed monster more often than not.
Against a Vikings defense that ranks 30th in the league against the run, Williams should be confidently deployed in all lineups across all fantasy formats this week.
D'Andre Swift out for Lions vs. Vikings Because of Shoulder Injury
Dec 3, 2021
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The Detroit Lions announced running back D'Andre Swift has been ruled out ahead Sunday's Week 13 game against the Minnesota Vikings because of a shoulder injury.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday he's hopeful the team's leading rusher is a "week away" and noted there's been no talk of shutting him down for the remainder of the campaign despite their 0-10-1 record.
Swift, 22, appeared in each of Detroit's first 11 games this season, but he left the team's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Chicago Bears in the second quarter with the shoulder injury. Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he is expected to miss multiple weeks with an AC joint injury.
In an otherwise lost season for the Lions, the Georgia product has been one of the few bright spots for the organization. He leads the team with 196 touches, 984 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns.
Swift was Detroit's second-round pick (No. 35 overall) in the 2020 NFL draft. He scored 10 total touchdowns as a rookie, making him the first Lions running back to hit that mark since James Stewart in 2000.
However, Detroit is still chasing its first win of the season under Campbell. Its main objective at this late stage is trying to find players who can be key contributors going forward.
Jamaal Williams, who has been the primary starter in the Lions' backfield, will likely get most of the carries with Swift out of action, but rookie Jermar Jefferson should also see an increased workload in the offense.
