Veteran quarterback Jared Goff wasn't supposed to play against the Atlanta Falcons Friday night in Detroit's preseason opener. Head coach Dan Campbell had planned to give Goff the night off. But as soon as Goff found out the starters along the offensive line were playing, there was no keeping him out of the lineup.
"He came to my office and said, 'I want to play,'" Campbell said after Friday's 27-23 loss to Atlanta. "I said, 'you're not playing' and he said, 'if they are playing, I'm playing.' So, I said, 'ok, you're playing.'
"I appreciate that about him. He went out there and ran that offense. I think it's about trust. He trusts them (the offensive line), I trust him, and I trust that o-line, and I trust Ben (Johnson) is going to put them in the right situation."
Goff only played a total of 10 snaps in Detroit's preseason opener Friday, but he was able to navigate the starting offense 79 yards in those 10 plays, while completing 3-of-4 passes for 47 yards for a 113.5 passer rating. The starters got in the end zone on a 9-yard D’Andre Swift run. It was an efficient drive, something we've seen from Goff and this offense all camp. He's been really sharp.
"Didn't want those guys out there without me," Goff said after the game about playing alongside the starters upfront.
Veteran left tackle Taylor Decker said when he heard what Goff did, it fired him up, along with center Frank Ragnow and the rest of the offensive line. That says a lot about the teammate and leader Goff has become in Detroit.
ALL FIVE TO START
Not once did we see the five starters along Detroit's offensive line together in a single game last year. Decker missed the first half of the season with a finger/hand injury and Ragnow was gone for the year after Week 4 with a foot injury.
"We were all excited to be out there together," Decker said after the game. "First time our projected starting five has been out there for a game scenario. We just had a game mindset."
Decker said he felt there was a little swagger on offense, and it was easy to see in that first drive. Those guys upfront opened some holes in the run game and did a nice job keeping Goff clean. They are expected to be one of the best units in the league, so it was good for them to get off to a really nice start helping to lead a touchdown drive in their one possession Friday.
View photos from the Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions Preseason Week 1 game at Ford Field on Friday, Aug. 12 in Detroit, MI.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker (21) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds (8) before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) warms up before a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30), Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77), and Detroit Lions guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) and Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods (51) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Chris Board (49) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Eric Banks (94) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods (51) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) and Detroit Lions cornerback AJ Parker (41) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89), Detroit Lions guard Tommy Kraemer (78), Detroit Lions center Evan Brown (63), Detroit Lions guard Logan Stenberg (71), and Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Trinity Benson (17) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Devin Funchess (13) scores a touchdown during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) and Detroit Lions tight end Devin Funchess (13) celebrate after a touchdown during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions cornerback Mark Gilbert (29) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) and Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12), Detroit Lions guard Tommy Kraemer (78), Detroit Lions center Evan Brown (63), Detroit Lions guard Logan Stenberg (71), and Detroit Lions tackle Matt Nelson (67) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Trinity Benson (17) and Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback Tim Boyle (12) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions cornerback Mike Hughes (23) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (98) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions kicker Riley Patterson (6) kicks off during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions guard Logan Stenberg (71) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Devin Funchess (13) hurdles a defender during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (15) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions cornerback Saivion Smith (19) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Josh Woods (51) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton (83) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton (50) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10), Detroit Lions guard Kevin Jarvis (75), and Detroit Lions center Ryan McCollum (74) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (46) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) and. Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions kicker Riley Patterson (6) kicks a field goal during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton (83) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tight end Nolan Givan (43) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (57), Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (46), Detroit Lions cornerback Mark Gilbert (29), Detroit Lions safety JuJu Hughes (33), and Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (59) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) and Detroit Lions center Evan Brown (63) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
Detroit Lions tackle Kendall Lamm (76) during a NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 12, 2022 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions).
BACKUP QB COMPETITION
Tim Boyle and David Blough are competing for the right to be named Goff's backup at the end of training camp. Campbell admitted this week the preseason games would go a long way in determining who ultimately wins that competition. So after one preseason game in the books, where do we stand?
Still pretty even.
Both Boyle and Blough did some good things against the Falcons, and both led multiple scoring drives, but both made critical mistakes that put the defense in tough spots and led to Falcons points.
Boyle threw an interception early in the third quarter on a pass intended for wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton that wasn't a good decision by Boyle. It led to an Atlanta field goal.
Blough was trying to run out the clock late with the Lions leading 23-20 and just over two minutes left in the game, when he fumbled a snap that was recovered by the Falcons at the Lions' 33-yard line. It led to the eventual game-winning touchdown pass by the Falcons.
"Both of them I thought made some good plays, but then there's a couple of these plays that leave a bitter taste in your mouth," Campbell said. "Those two hurt (us), man."
Campbell said he was pretty pleased with how each quarterback operated the huddle and played overall. Now the critical mistakes have to be eliminated.
