Lions QB Jared Goff reflects on ‘massive’ Vikings win

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (FOX 2) - Week 18 for many NFL teams was a foregone conclusion. Just not in Detroit where the Lions triumphed over the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North, the number 1 seed and a bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Quarterback Jared Goff went 27 of 33 for 231 yards and touchdown pass to Jahmyr Gibbs. On Tuesday, he sat down for his weekly chat with FOX 2's Dan Miller where he reflected on the win – saying he'll never forget the game.

"Yeah, it's such a special game, a night that we'll remember forever. It was a tough game, it was a really challenging game certainly for us, offensively, to kind of get things going. And you know, we always talk about all the drives are the same, you know, they all count the same. And so we got to go in there in the fourth quarter, but it was a little frustrating early on. But yeah, we found a way to win and play in front of that crowd and hear them roar and the whole thing. It was fun," Goff said.

Goff is in his fourth year as Lions QB and has lead the Lions over the Vikings five straight times while averaging over 283 yards through the air.

But Sunday night's matchup started off a bit rocky for Goff, with a near safety and two interceptions in the first six drives. This was despite a touchdown on the second drive of the game – which came thanks to a clutch 4th down pass to Jameson Williams.

"Yeah, there was a little bit of a chess match going on there on those two to play sequence with, with their defense and what they were doing and knew they were bringing the pressure and just, you know, you have to get it out and Jame-o -- he was kind of the only option on that play and he made a great play. I was able to get the ball to him and free rusher and cut it off," Goff said. 

It wasn't until he the roar of the crowd that Goff knew the play worked.

"Yeah, I had a few of those where I just don't look and you just try to hear. And if it if it's like a really loud roar, it's good. If it's like halfway louder, it's usually not very good," Goff said.

The Lions were led by running back Jahmyr Gibbs who picked up four total touchdowns, including a pass from Goff for that first score.

"Jahmyr, I can't say enough good things about what he did and our O-line for him and in the tight ends I thought blocked really well. The receivers blocked really well all day and I had a front row seat to watch him do his thing and he's a hell of a player," Goff said.

But the defense – that was what really helped seal the deal for the Lions. Goff said the way the defense showed up was ‘massive’.

"And that's what you know, it's a team game. And they certainly picked us up there early on and, you know, help us out. Those red zone stops -- you can't say enough good things about what they were doing. And to hold a team like that, was it nine points, no touchdowns like that. That's as good of an offense in this league as there is. And you know, our guys, as banged up as they are, they don't care. They're just a bunch of dogs. They don't care," Goff said.

Now the Lions get a week off and a chance to get running back David Montgomery back for the divisional round.

"Yeah, it's massive. It's big. It's big. And certainly for us with with where our bye week landed this year to get a little rest and a little time off and really just sleep, you know, just kind of recover. And I spoke about it after the game with that Monday night game a week ago is tough. You know, you don't get much sleep on that night. You're still kind of getting back from that. And to get that extra sleep this week to be able to recover knowing we've got a home game against somebody who's going to play this weekend, it's big. It's massive means we still got to handle business, though. It's no, nothing's given to us. And it'll be fun to play in front of our fans and other time and it'll be great," Goff said.