If LA Rams have hopes of winning NFC West then the real Goff needs to stand up
The LA Rams have two quarterbacks. They have Jared Goff, 2019 NFC Champion who through the first seven games this season has a passer rating of 104.6, where perfect is 158.3, but anything over 100 is excellent.
That quar terback had 12 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
Then the R ams have the Jared Goff of the last four weeks. In those four games, Goff has a passer rating of 78.9, he has thrown six touchdowns, but also six interceptions and lost the ball through four fumbles, not the t ype of play you want for a player getting paid $28 million.
Goff is in his fifth year as an NFL star ter and, although he is still young, he has to show his development, this season more than any other. The great quarterbacks in the NFL - and even the good ones – have demonstrated an abilit y to learn and develop their game by the end of their fifth year.
Like Goff, Peyton Manning wasn’t a mobile running quar terback but in his fifth year, he went from throwing 19 interceptions to just ten a year later.
Goff has had moments where he shows why he was a No 1 pick but he has also had moments where he has performed extremely poorly. On Sunday night he had t wo interceptions and a fumble as the R ams lost 23-20 to the 49ers.
The LA R ams have a Super B owl level defense, so all they need is a suitable game
manager on the other side of the ball.
If the R ams are to win the NFC West this year, they now need to beat Arizona t wice and S eattle on away turf, but if the R ams want to be serious contenders, this year and moving for ward it’s time for Goff to show he can make the right choices, even if that is taking a hit and losing yardage.
The league week star ted early with t wo of three planned matches taking place on Thurs
day night in the traditional Thanksgiving slots. Houston Texans took on Detroit Lions and despite a competitive game, the Texans ended up winning comfor tably 41-25, leading to the sacking of the Lions general manager and head coach over the weekend.
Elsewhere, the other team that traditionally play on America’s “Turkey Day”, the Dallas Cowboys, continued their awful season by losing 41-16 to Washington. The Pittsburgh v Balti
more game was moved to Tuesday but due to positive Covid tests, but could yet be cancelled entirely.
The New York Giants upset the Cincinnati B engals to become the sole leader of the NFC East with an appalling four wins and seven losses, as the division looks set to send a losing team to the playoffs for the first time since the 16-game era began in 1978.
In the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills continued their playoff push with a 27-17 win over the LA Chargers while the Miami Dolphins kept the pressure on as they cruised past the still winless New York Jets 20 -3. Elsewhere, the New England Patriots upset the Arizona Cardinals to keep their slim hopes of a playoff place alive.
In a battle of the king and the heir apparent, Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay were outscored 27-24 by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The game had the duo combine for 807 yards and six passing touchdowns, with Kansas wideout Tyreek Hill collecting three touchdown passes as par t of his 269-yard game.
The Denver Broncos, who star ted the game with no recognised quar terback due to another covid outbreak, played as well as expected but the New Orleans Saints ran out 31-3 winners.
Oakland R aiders had an equally inefficient offensive day, despite star ting passer Derek Carr being present, as they were humbled by the Atlanta Falcons 45- 6. The Caro - lina Panthers blew an 11-point lead in the four th quar ter to lose 28-27 to Minnesota.
Finally, in the AFC S outh, the top t wo teams met as Indianap - olis Colts hosted the Tennessee Titans. Despite the teams entering with the same record, the Titans dominated early, leading 35-14 at half time. Despite the slowing of offense in the second half and a spirited attempt by the Colts, the game finished 45-26 to last year’s AFC finalists.