What’s Jared Goff Saying After Lions Loss?

Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

NFL: NFC Divisional Round-Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

DETROIT —  Detroit and their fans will never forget the 2024 NFC Championship. It was right in front of them. Fans were booking flights. Checking hotel prices. The Lions were on the cusp of making their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

But the dream is dead. And fans are taking their anger out on HC Dan Campbell. The Lions failed to convert a pair of short fourth downs in 49ers territory and the decisions to pass up field goals played a big part in the crushing loss.

There’s at least one person still defending coach after his questionable decisions. And it’s Jared Goff.

Fighting back tears, the Lions quarterback somberly spoke to reporters after the Lions 34-31 loss vs. the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

“He believes in us,” Goff said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I don’t know what the numbers are but we had a lot of big-time conversions this year that changed games and I don’t know what we were today. I know we had the two we didn’t convert. It can change a game if you convert them and we didn’t. And that’s part of the reason why we lost.”

“We feel like we should have won that game, obviously,” Goff added. “I don’t think it was anything that we’ve done all year up to this point. Not doing what we want on offense in the second half, ultimately lose the game for a variety of reasons. You tip your cap to San Francisco. They played well in the second half.”

Your storyline today? Not the 49ers second half comeback, but rather the head-scratching decisions by the Lions head coach.

Campbell took responsibility for the collapse and addressed his controversial decision-making.

“I just felt really good about us converting and getting our momentum and not letting them play long ball,” he said. “It’s easy hindsight, I get it. I get that. But I don’t regret those decisions. It’s hard. It’s hard, because they didn’t, we didn’t come through, wasn’t able to work out. … And I understand the scrutiny I’ll get. It’s part of the gig.”

You can argue aggressive play-calling been the identity of the Lions all season long, but the playoffs are a different beast. To pass up points on two occasions in a road championship, is simply unacceptable.

For as aggressive as Campbell likes to be, he’s also pragmatic. He realizes that the Lions might not get another chance to play for a berth in the Super Bowl.

“I told those guys this may have been our only shot,” he said postgame. “Do I think that? No. Do I believe that? No. However, I know how hard it is to get here. I’m well aware. And it’ll be twice as hard to get back to this point next year than it was this year. That’s the reality.”