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NFL legend compares Jared Goff to Tom Brady after impressive comeback victory vs. Vikings

Lions have the best record in the NFC

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates with quarterback Jared Goff (16) after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. Detroit won 31-29. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs) (Stacy Bengs, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

MINNEAPOLIS – NFL legend and five-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw compared Jared Goff to the goat Tom Brady after the Detroit Lions took down the Minnesota Vikings 31-29.

The Lions improved to 5-1 after their comeback victory over their NFC North rivals, taking first place not only in the division but in the whole conference behind Goff and his stellar play.

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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrates with quarterback Jared Goff (16) after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Minneapolis. Detroit won 31-29. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

With the victory, the Lions improved to 5-1 in consecutive seasons for the first time since relocating to Detroit from Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1934.

--> Traveling back in time (to Ohio) to see where the Detroit Lions began

up frontGoff led the Lions on an eight-play 44-yard drive in two minutes and 17 seconds to set up a Jake Bates game-winning field goal, leaving the Viking with only 15 seconds to spare.

Detroit Lions place-kicker Jake Bates (39) celebrates his 44-yard field goal against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The Lions were leading 28-17 but gave up 12 points in the fourth quarter before Goff led them on the game-winning drive, which was his 20th in the fourth quarter or overtime in his career.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) walks to huddle after a penalty during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Bradshaw said he had faith in Goff ahead of the game-winning drive.

“You know, you look at a coach, and you look at the quarterback and their relationship, when you have a coach like (Dan) Campbell, and you have a quarterback like Goff, the first thing I think about, the first thing that came to my mind actually was when they got the ball back to go down and kick the game-winning field goal was that, ‘This guy reminds me of a little bit of our guy Tom Brady.’ You just know the Lions are going to go down, and they’re going to score, and I remember standing on the sidelines down in Houston when Tom led (The New England Patriots), and I said, ‘Never worry, this ball is in the best hands it can possibly be in Tom Brady.’ When you can trust a guy who is consistently brought your team from behind in the fourth quarter, especially, man that’s rarified air right there.”

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw

The Brady comparison is nothing to besmirch as Goff joined the former Michigan Wolverines legend as the only player in league history to have a completion percentage of 72% while throwing two touchdowns and to post a passer rating of 110% in four straight games in a single season.

In sed four-game span, Goff became the only player to complete 80% of his passes while also posting a passer rating of 140. Goff also posted at least two touchdown passes, a 72% completion rate, and a 110 passer rating.

Goff finished the day completing 22-25 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns with a 140 rating and an 87.5 QBR.

The birthday boy (Oct. 14, 1994) posted a passer rating of 140 in three straight games, joining Super Bowl champions Aaron Rodgers (2011), Kurt Warner (1999), and Roger Staubach (1971) as the fourth player in NFL history to do so.

“The guys got arm talent, there’s no question about that, but it’s what he’s got in his head and in his chest.

And that’s what makes him a dangerous player, and it’s what makes him really one of these guys that you can build around because he’s a winner. He will find a way to win. He will find a way to put the offense in position to win the game.

He doesn’t get fragile as he’s tough and competitive, and he’s reliable and I love the guy, man, and once again, he steps up for us on the road in a divisional game.”

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

With the Lions leading the conference, many experts are picking them to play in Super Bowl LIX.

By the way Goff is orchestrating this offense, the once-distance dream can become a reality as early as Feb. 9, 2025.

“Those guys (Offensive line) really settle in. I mean our whole offense, but you have to give those guys credit for what they are doing up front.

Frank (Ragnow) is identifying (Coverages), our running backs are protecting me all day and giving me enough time to get the ball out.

It’s really a full team effort with those five guys up front, with Kayode (Awosika) stepping in late with the notice of the week with Kev (Kevin Zeitler) and playing well, it‘s tough, and having all five of those guys play the way that they did it certainly gives us a good chance every week.”

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

You can catch Goff and the red-hot Lions Sunday inside Ford Field, where they will play host to the Tennessee Titans at 1 p.m.


About the Author
Brandon Carr headshot

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

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