Four years ago, Jared Goff was in the process of leading the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl appearance. Now, he will be facing them as a playoff opponent as a member of the Detroit Lions.
The Rams traded Goff to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford in March 2021. That ensuing season, Stafford ended up leading Los Angeles to a championship, something Goff was unable to do in LA.
But this weekend, Goff will get his chance at revenge, and he seems prepared for it.
When asked if he still has a chip on his shoulder from being traded, Goff said absolutely.
“Of course,” Goff said, via Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “I think it’ll never leave me, and I think that’s a good thing.”
However, Goff is making sure that his personal feelings do not override the goal of the Lions, who have not won a playoff game since January 1992.
“I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city that hasn’t had one in so long,” Goff said. “We’ve got a home playoff game for the first time in so long and that’s so much more important than anything personally for me. I want to be a part of this win and do my job the best of my ability.”
Detroit has not hosted a postseason contest in three decades, which, up until the team won the NFC North this season, was the last time it won a division crown.
Goff enjoyed a terrific regular season, throwing for 4,575 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 97.9.
But none of that will really matter all that much to the Motor City if Goff is unable to guide the Lions to at least one playoff victory.
Jared Goff and Co. will face the Rams in the Wild Card Round this Sunday.
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