Numbers show just how dominant Lions' Jared Goff was against Packers

The Green Bay Packers entered Week 7 hoping their zone-heavy defense could limit one of the NFL's most efficient quarterbacks. Instead, Jared Goff spent Sunday doing what he has done for much of the season: calmly identifying soft spots, distributing the football and moving the chains. Detroit's 20-17 victory felt less like a shootout and more like a quarterback clinic.

Packers tried to limit explosive plays, but Lions created them anyway

Goff led the Lions offense that totaled 415 yards. The Packers frequently relied on zone coverage principles designed to keep explosive plays in front of them. 

The problem was that Goff never appeared rushed, as he was pressured just five times against Green Bay. Time and time again, he found openings between defenders, particularly targeting playmakers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. 

The Lions received standout performances from both wideouts, as St. Brown amassed nine receptions for 153 yards and Williams totaled five catches for 91 yards and two scores. Each receiver also generated chunk plays, with St. Brown securing a 30-yard catch and Williams breaking free for a 40-yard gain.

Historic efficiency fuels Jared Goff's MVP-caliber start

According to Next Gen Stats Insights, via Nick Shook: "Goff completed 22 of his 32 pass attempts for 303 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions' Week 7 win over the Packers. Nearly all of his production came against zone coverage, where he completed 20 of 25 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown (+13.5% completion percentage over expected). Man coverage gave him far more trouble, as Goff completed just 2 of 7 passes for 14 yards and a touchdown (-20.8% CPOE)."

The conversation around Goff needs to change, because he's a legitimate MVP candidate. 

According to senior Lions writer Tim Twentyman, "Goff has 14 touchdowns vs. no interceptions after throwing for 303 yards with two touchdowns for a 119.7 rating against Green Bay. It was Goff's 27th career game with at least 300 yards passing, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, the fifth most in NFL history. This is the first time since 1933 the Lions have not thrown an interception in their first six games." 

Goff is mastering games. Fourteen touchdowns without an interception isn't the profile of a quarterback being hidden by a great running game. It's the profile of a quarterback operating at an elite level, making the right decisions on every single snap. 

For years, critics questioned whether Goff could carry a contender. Through seven weeks of the 2026 regular season, he's doing exactly that, all while eliminating the one thing that destroys offenses. The discussion has to shift from whether Goff is playing well to whether anyone is playing quarterback better right now in the National Football League.