Goff says huge contract not distraction
Rams quarterback had a lost November, but vows he’ll play up to the deal he signed.
The massive contract extension Jared Goff signed before the season is not putting an extra burden on the Rams quarterback.
That, at least, is what Goff said Wednesday when asked if the $134-million deal — with a record $110-million guaranteed — came with more pressure to perform.
“There are times when you think of it,” Goff said, “but no, I don’t feel any differently.”
Goff, 25, has struggled this season to play to the level that earned him consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft goes into Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals having not thrown a touchdown pass in the last three games, the longest streak of his NFL career.
Goff has passed for 2,995 yards and 11 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions.
He ranks fourth in the NFL in yards passing but is 29th in completion percentage (61.2%), 25th in touchdowns and has the fourthmost interceptions.
Goff will finish the month of November with no touchdown passes.
In the last three games, he has had five passes intercepted, including two in Monday night’s 45-6 rout by the Baltimore Ravens. He also has fumbled four times, losing one.
Coach Sean McVay said this week that Goff’s quarterback ratings were “not always a reflection of him.”
But Goff has not performed as he did in 2018 when he led the Rams to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance.
The touchdown-pass drought resulted in part from playing against strong defenses and a lack of execution by the Rams — mainly himself, Goff said.
“Need to be better at everything,” he said.
“I know I said this the last couple weeks, but I will be.”
Goff and the Rams have no margin for error as they attempt to remain in playoff contention.
They are 6-5 and almost certainly need to win their five remaining regular-season games — against the Cardinals (3-7-1), Seattle Seahawks (9-2), Dallas Cowboys (6-5), San Francisco 49ers (10-1) and the Cardinals — to earn a third consecutive postseason berth.
The Rams are averaging 22.6 points, which ranks 14th in the NFL.
Their scoring average fell this month after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-12, defeating the Chicago Bears 17-7 and then producing only two field goals against the Ravens.
“Our offense has not been where it needs to be the last few weeks, and I need to bring up the standard a little bit,” Goff said.
Despite Goff ’s struggles, he remains “a tremendous thrower and great decisionmaker,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
“You don’t go to Super Bowls, you don’t play at the level he’s played at the last three years if you’re not,” he said.
Goff’s statistics do not entirely reflect his play this season, Kingsbury said. “Everybody has those stretches — the best to ever do it have had those stretches,” he said. “He’ll come out of it and continue to be one of the top, top QBs in the league.”
The Rams need that to happen Sunday.
Goff and his teammates said they have put the embarrassing loss to the Ravens behind.
“It was definitely something that made you sick and something that you never want to relive or have to go through,” Goff said.
“But we’re beyond that now — push through it.
“On to Arizona.”
Etc.
The Rams had two walkthroughs Wednesday so they issued an estimated injury report. Safety Marqui Christian popped up because of a knee issue. McVay said it was “precautionary.” … McVay’s favorite Thanksgiving dish? “I like stuffing, I like mashed potatoes. I’ll put on about 12 pounds” on Thursday, he said.