Do Jared and the Lions NEED a (productive) run game to succeed?

Interesting how much perceptions continue to diverge from reality with respect to Jared Goff.

I occasionally check in on my old Rams board. I see a post from a longtime poster in which he argues that JG belongs in a second QB tier of “guys who can do the job as long as they have good run game support. These are the QBs vying to jump into that top tier. One note is that some of these guys bring their own run game, and that extra dimension can put them into a first tier like Jackson for example whose ground threat dictates to defenses just like a run game. But there’s a lot of these guys, from Goff to Hurts to Mayfield etc.”

I’m curious: is this true? Obv the Lions have a powerful run game, prefer to play w/more run-pass balance than most teams, and rarely have had to depart from that over the last 2+ seasons.

But the few times they’ve had to rely heavily on the passing game, how has JG done? Can he “carry the team” offensively w/a near-exclusive reliance on the pass? Mind you, according to the poster, Stafford was tier one because “in any given game [he] can take it over no matter what is going on with the ground game”?

I looked at the three games over the past two seasons w/the lowest rushing totals: Bills this year (Lions: 48 yds rushing) and Bucs (40 yds) and last Vikings game last year (70 yds).

Bills: Goff went for 494 w/5 TDs w/no pix - while the Lions rushed for 48 yds total. Lions lose by 6.

Bucs: Goff threw for 2 scores and 380 yds, no pix, while getting 40 yds rushing in support? Lions win.

Vikings: 2 scores and no ints for Jared, 311 yds passing. Lions win.

Overall, they went 2-1 and Jared threw for 1,185 yds, 9 TDs, 0 ints while getting 158 yds in run support: 3 TDs, 0 ints, 395 yds passing per game.

We’d all prefer that the Lions don’t have to prove it from here on out, but I think it’s pretty clear that Jared and the pass game he can carry the team if need be.

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The Lions can throw it, the Lions can run it. Goff is deadly off play action and why running is so vital.

Can we stop anyone though? That’s the question.

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Check. Check. And check.

Again, every Lions fan will be rooting for an effective run game going forward.

AND the numbers from those three games suggest that the Lions are better equipped to survive a faltering run game than most.

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I would suggest that first contract Goff like 99% of all 1st contract QBs needs a good Oline, RB game, and WR to be successful.

I might also suggest that current Goff has evolved. I have stated in some other threads that Goff is the best pre-snap and post-snap reader of defenses out there expect possibly Burrow. I believe that Mahomes relies on his ad-lib abilities and legs when in trouble.

The current Goff can drop back or play from shotgun without any running game or fakes and do just fine. He no longer needs play action to be successful.

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Umm, average rush game will be enough if the defense can create some pressure and win turnover margin

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We can agree to disagree on that until the end of time, if you like. Anything that protects Jared Goff from pressure whether that is an elite OL or the threat of a sustainable running game will enhance effectiveness. And then there’s his health. Gumby Goff has been largely healthy because he ducks and covers or throws ball away in a timely fashion. I don’t want to live in a football world where defenses aren’t worried about a running game and only have eyes for Jared.

Steamroller GIF by Demic

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Every QB needs a run game.

Teams have to respect it or it’s impossible to win just passing.

The reason you see Goff winning by passing is opponents stacked the box to stop the run and dared us to pass. Pick your poison.

The Lions couldn’t win with Stafford due to a lack of a run game.

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Us Lions fans have seen lots of Matt Stafford, and without a running game he really struggles. Like most QBs. It’s one of the reasons why he has less playoff wins than Jared Goff despite being 6 years older. He played without a run game for so long.

I’d expect no different from the Rams fans tho. It’s clear to anyone with eyes that Goff is better than Stafford - and when your team gives not only Goff but all those draft picks of course you need to feel defensive that Stafford is “better.” Goff is 2-0 against Stafford and statistically is in a higher tier

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I’m going to take it one step further… since his SB win, Stafford has played 3 seasons. In those seasons he’s had: 54 touch downs, 27 picks and 9,814 passing yards. During that same stretch Goff has 95 touchdowns, 29 picks and over 13 thousand pass yards.

Stafford’s SB ring bought him a ton of favor, but the reality is over the last 3 years Goff has been a superior QB in almost every measurable stat.

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I’ll tell you this….if the Lions’ running game isn’t what it has been they are not 14-2

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Goff has been on the superior team.

Goff has had a better O line and RBs than Stafford. Stafford has more talented receivers but they’ve been hurt more than Goff’s.

Don’t get me wrong. 2024 Goff is better than 2024 Stafford but I am not certain 2021 Goff was better than 2021 Stafford. I also think big the Lions had a run game and Oline when Stafford was here the Lions would’ve won at least one Super Bowl.

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I have said what you are saying and I’d like to agree with that. But I am starting to think that Stafford functions better without a running game a is better suited to be surrounded by better WRs and TEs. Kyren Williams is like the 3rd or 4th leading rusher in the NFL right now but statistically it hasn’t raised Stafford’s level of play or the wins aren’t quite in the superior category. 10-6 is good…but its just that, GOOD! Now I do realize Stafford is 36 years old so this isn’t the young whipper-snapper the Lions had in 2011.

Exactly
That why the Ravens signed Henry

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Not only does the run game help Goff, it has been a huge assist for ARSB. the openings he has in the middle of the field are from LB’s being sucked up on play action.

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I don’t think so., but we can play red zone Defense and force turnovers

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Especially in the playoffs when QBs sometimes have to go on the road, outdoors, in harsh weather conditions.

Lions beat the Vikings on Sunday, it’s a moot point.

Okay. I see I need to rephrase the question. How about: Do Jared and the Lions need a PRODUCTIVE run game to succeed?

And the answer is no. In the three games where the Lions’ run game was least productive - fewest yds - Jared avg’d 395 passing yds, 3 TDs and no ints.

Yet the narrative that Goff “needs things to be perfect” persists. That, more than many/most other QBs, he must have a really good passpro OL in front of him, that he’s sunk w/out a productive run game, that he has to rely heavily on play-action, etc.

Truth is that the Lions’ OL is NOT an elite passpro unit and Jared can carry the offense on his arm even when the run game is going nowhere and has done so. The Lions obviously rely more heavily on play-action than any other team and are very successful with it, but I can’t find any publicly available stats that compare QB ratings with/without play action.

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Goff is definitely at his best when the run game is humming. When he had Gurley in LA the Rams were a really tough team to beat. I think he has a better run game now than he did with the Rams.

Yes!

no Goff doesn’t “need” a run game to be a good QB but I wouldn’t trade Monty or Gibbs for anything ! I remember when everybody thought Swift was a great RB, I like Monty more and I like Gibbs more.

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