LIONS QB JARED GOFF QUOTE SHEET

January 10, 2024

On how much his mindset and routine changes in the postseason: “To be honest, not much changes. Obviously, these games are win or go home and we all know the magnitude of them. But your weekly process doesn’t change. The way you watch film, the way you prepare, there’s a reason you got here. Trust that and prepare the same way.”

On how the offense has to avoid playing ‘too tight’ with the numerous young players who do not have playoff experience: “Yeah, no, I don’t think we will. We’ve played in a lot of big games, a lot of them. And a lot of these guys have played in big games in college, and yeah we’ll be ready, we’ll be ready. I don’t worry about that for a second. We’ve got a lot of primetime experience under our belt at this point and understand the magnitude of it.”

On how challenging it will be to face interior pressure with Rams DT Aaron Donald and Rams NT Kobie Turner playing at a high level: “Yeah, it’s hard. They’re both good. Obviously, Aaron is as good as anyone’s ever been on the inside and Kobie’s having a hell of a year man, he really is. For a rookie, he’s playing really well and we have our hands full there, but our guys will be read y.”

On if Rams DT Aaron Donald was as intense on the field in practice as he was in the game during his time in Los Angeles: “Yeah, he was, he was and got a ton of respect for him and the way he works and learned a lot from him.”

On his feelings about Rams Head Coach Sean McVay: “Yeah, Sean and I are good. He’s – I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s – obviously, we had our differences there at the end, but he’s a great coach. He’s done a lot of great things and he’s a guy that taught me a lot.”

On if he has extra motivation for this game playing against his old team: “No, no, yeah, I think – no. I mean, obviously there’s a personal connection there and there – not just for me, but for a lot of our players and some of theirs as well. But, no, I think – I so badly want to win a game for this city and win a playoff game for this city that hasn’t had one in so long. 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 to the best of my ability.”

On his initial reaction when he found out the Rams would be their opponent in the NFC Wild Card Round: “Yeah, it was kind of tracking there for a few weeks, so wasn’t surprised or anything. It’s just something that we knew could happen. Obviously, it was probably either them or Green Bay going into that last week. And yeah, when it became them, we said, ‘Ready to go and let’s go do it.’”

On if there are similarities between his first playoff game with Los Angeles and his first playoff game in Detroit breaking droughts for each team: “No, I don’t know. I think that year we were – it would be more similar, I think, to last year’s team for us here because the year prior to going to the playoffs in L.A., we were 4-12 and struggling and then the next year we bounced back and made the playoffs, and it was all kind of really quick. I think last year, we kind of established ourselves as a team that was one game away from making the playoffs and then this year, winning the division, so it’s a bit different.”

On his message as a leader to his young teammates who do not have playoff experience on handling this week and its intensity: “I don’t have the message for them. They’re good to go. I get that question a lot around here because of how young we’ve been in the past, but I’ve kind of answered it the same every time. We’ve got guys who have played in big games. We’ve got guys who have played in big college games. (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) does a great job getting guys ready. It feels like I answer this question every year, we were on primetime against Green Bay last year and, ‘How are these guys going to be ready for a game they haven’t played in?’ And we go out and beat them in their place. And then we do the same things against Kansas City early in the year, ‘How are these guys going to be ready for a game like this?’ It’s like, they’re ready, we’ll be ready.”

On last season feeling like a playoff year similar to the 2017 Rams and if that would make this year’s Lions team similar to the Rams team that made a Super Bowl run: “Yeah, I don’t know. The parallels are too hard to draw. It was so long ago. But I think the progression of a team, sure, from year one to year three it kind of does that, but no, the comparison of the teams is impossible to make.”

On how it feels to be the quarterback of the team that led the Lions to the playoffs for the first time in a long time: “Yeah, it feels good. It’s exciting. It’s been a goal of mine since I got here. Seeing the opportunity to be a part of something that’s from the ground up and to be able to be where we’re standing right now and have the chance to win the Super Bowl is pretty exciting. We’ve got a long way to go, and the Rams are the first team in our way and we’ve got to go handle business. But yeah, it’s been a long road to this point and it’s a long road ahead as well.”

On if there were moments during his 2017 playoff run with the Rams that surprised him: “Yeah, I think the first time you play in the first one, I remember the speed is just a little bit ticked back up. I think the first game of the season, the speed is really high and then as the season goes on, there’s injuries and there’s lulls in seasons and it can get a bit slower, I mean just a hair. And then I think I remember in that first playoff game for me, I’m like, ‘Oh boy, OK it’s back to the speed of the first game.’ And now does that affect you winning or losing? I don’t know. You kind of adjust pretty quickly but knowing that heading into a game can help.”

On how much better he thinks he is now compared to his last three seasons with the Lions: “Yeah, yeah, a ton better. It’s just reps, man. It’s just reps, reps, reps, having guys here believe in me and trust me and kind of let me do my thing and growing as a person, as a player, as a leader. Learning what works for me, what doesn’t work for me. How to handle certain situations. And then yeah, getting on the football field, just reps. Just seeing things over and over and over again and knowing where to go with the ball.”

On if getting Lions WR Josh Reynolds his contract incentives on Sunday started with him: “Yeah, well yeah, (Lions Offensive Coordinator) Ben (Johnson) was pretty aware of it early on in the week. He was really thinking about how we can get him the ball in a variety of ways, throughout the week. And really, on game day as well, really trying to get him the ball. It was frustrating at some points because we were calling plays for him, and the coverage would dictate the ball to go elsewhere and so it was bit frustrating trying to get it to him based on what they were doing on defense. So, by the end, it was good. I’m glad he got that. I know he’s happy about it. And yeah, it was a fun moment.”

On his confidence in the offense being able to adjust if Lions TE Sam LaPorta is unable to play against the Rams: “Sure, yeah, I think back to last year, what we were able to do without Sam and having (Lions TE) Brock (Wright) and (Lions TE) James (Mitchell), and even (TE Shane) Zylstra at times there last year and the creativity, getting those guys in the right spots, getting them open and their ability to make plays. I think James is ready to go if his number is called. I think Brock’s ready to go if his number’s called. Those guys are our playmakers and rise to the occasion pretty consistently, so yeah. If Sam can’t go, they’ll be ready to go.”

On if he has confidence in the offense if Lions TE Sam LaPorta cannot play because of their experience adjusting to games without Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: “Yeah, no, I think we’d like to have him out there, but I think it’s a credit to – yeah, those guys upstairs getting us a good plan and guys rising to the occasion, like I mentioned. I think we’ve got a great support group here that understands when their number gets called, it’s time to go. I think about guys all year this year. I mean, even (Lions WR) Donovan (Peoples-Jones) coming in halfway through the year now and it seems like every time we’ve asked him to kind of get himself open and make a play, he’s done it. (Lions WR Jameson Williams) Jamo, obviously feeling – doing some great things now. It’s all – the tide is rising everywhere and it’s fun.”

On how seeing the NFC North banner at the stadium and having an opportunity to add more this season adds more fuel to the playoff run: “Yeah, we want to continue it. Seeing that banner is exciting. It’s an NFC North banner, it’s a division title, but we’ve got a lot more we’re working for, and ultimately the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal and winning a championship around here and something that hasn’t been done in a long time and we’ve got a great group who can do it. And it happens one week at a time and got to out and handle business this weekend.”