Jared Goff addresses controversial calls after Lions’ narrow defeat to Steelers
In the aftermath of a heart-wrenching 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff expressed his thoughts candidly during a postgame press conference. The defeat left the Lions on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, and Goff’s frustration was palpable as he navigated through a series of controversial calls that shaped the game’s outcome.
Reflections on the final play
Goff’s emotions were raw as he recounted the dramatic final moments. “Yeah, I knew there was a penalty. I was hoping it was defensive, and then we either have another play, or if Amon-Ra St. Brown was down—when I saw he wasn’t down, hoping it’s defensive and we get the touchdown and win the game. It didn’t go that way, and we lost.”
The quarterback also addressed the offensive pass interference penalty called on St. Brown, acknowledging the challenges officials face. “Those guys have a hard job. I don’t want to make any excuses or anything like that. We’ve been on the right side of a lot of these. We’ve been on the wrong side of a lot of these. A few plays prior, the one on Isaac TeSlaa was a little more— in my head, for interpretation. But listen, man, they’ve got to make the calls. Those sting for sure, and you wish they weren’t called. So be it.”
Seeking clarity from officials
In an effort to make sense of the call that ended the game, Goff approached the officials. “I was trying to understand why we didn’t get a play to end the game. Offensive penalty, you don’t. That’s all I was trying to understand.”
Frustrations with the third quarter
Goff reflected on the difficulties the team faced during the third quarter, which proved critical to the outcome. “Yeah, it was hard to get a rhythm, but we did it to ourselves back there. In three plays, we get a safety, and they had two long drives. There’s no one to blame but ourselves to get the ball, move the ball, and stay on the field.”
The struggle of the run game
The Lions’ inability to establish a consistent run game has been a significant concern. Goff acknowledged its impact on their offensive strategy. “Yeah, it makes it hard. I mean, that’s a big part of who we want to be. We’ve got two really good backs that we need to find a way to get them going and be able to create some holes and get them moving.”
Praise for Kingsley Eguakun
With Kingsley Eguakun starting at center, Goff noted the young player’s performance. “I thought Kings did a good job, man. I haven’t seen any of the tape. There are some young errors, of course, that are going to happen. But honestly, I thought he operated pretty well and was pretty level-headed for most of the game.”
Coach Campbell’s message resonates
Following the defeat, Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell’s message to the team focused on character and resilience. Goff shared, “Find out who we are character-wise. Find out what we are made of. We know the percentages and whatnot. We know we are not eliminated, but we need some things to go our way. But yeah, find out who we are, see if we can win these last two, and see if we can get in. I know we will be dangerous if we can. That’s just the hard part.”
Understanding team identity
Despite the uncertainty hanging over the team, Goff is confident in their identity. “I know exactly who we are. I think we’ve struggled to do it successfully every game. I know who we are and know what we can be. It’s just certain games we haven’t been firing on all cylinders.”
Physicality and performance concerns
When discussing the Lions’ recent struggles to match the physicality of their opponents, Goff admitted, “I don’t have an explanation. I play quarterback, and I don’t have to be physical. Those guys upfront do their best and are grinding so hard protecting me and doing everything they can. Those teams played hard, and I know certainly last week, and this week, those fronts are damn good and played really hard. I thought our guys played hard, too.”
Surprise play at the end
Goff shared his thoughts on the surprising pitch from Amon-Ra St. Brown during the final play. “It caught me by surprise a little bit, for sure. Loose ball, put it in the endzone. Tried to make a play with it, and unfortunately, it didn’t matter.”
Encouragement for Isaac TeSlaa
Addressing the late-game penalty on TeSlaa, Goff reassured him. “I think he’s got a great head on his shoulders. I did talk to him very briefly, and he’s fine. I think I mentioned the one where Saint caught it, we thought was a touchdown. In my opinion, that’s a bad call. Those happen. Listen, man, they’ve got a tough job, and they make calls that go our way all the time. That one in particular, he should not hang his head about.”
Looking forward to the playoffs
As the team finds itself on the verge of playoff elimination, Goff expressed the urgency of their situation. “We haven’t had that feeling; it’s creeping in on us now. We got to find a way. I think it goes back to what Dan’s message was. Are we who we say we are type of thing? In games that are meaningful now, but you don’t know if they will be, depending on other things that happen. Are we still going to be what we say we are and show up to work and do the whole thing on a short week? It’s tough, but we’re built for it. I’m excited to see guys bounce back and find a way to get a win this week.”
