The five interceptions thrown by Jared Goff weren’t enough to prevent the Lions and their quarterback from rallying to a road victory against the AFC South-leading Texans last weekend.
Goff said his career-high five interceptions weren’t a big deal within his career. A small speed bump, he implied, as compared to his painful divorce from the Rams.
“I’ve been through a whole lot worse than that,” Goff said after the 26-23 decision. “Mentally, I’ve been to the bottom. Some unlucky plays aren’t going to throw me off my game.”
Goff, 30, nevertheless might appreciate that 44 years ago, a Hall of Fame quarterback went through a similar experience.
It was September 1980. Dan Fouts, who was 29, overcame five Raiders interceptions at Jack Murphy Stadium to throw the winning touchdown pass in overtime.
Seeing Fouts would have to pass more often because of San Diego’s injury-impaired ground game, the Raiders got interceptions from five defenders including Hall of Fame cornerback Mike Haynes.
Raiders kicker Matt Bahr wasn’t faring any better than Fouts. He missed five field goal tries.
In overtime, Fouts threw a back-shoulder strike to John Jefferson, and when cornerback Lester Hayes failed to touch him down, Jefferson rolled into the east end zone for the winning points. It was Jefferson’s second TD that day versus Hayes.
The Raiders would prove resilient, too.
They returned to Mission Valley in January behind a rejuvenated Jim Plunkett at quarterback.
In the only Super Bowl qualifier ever played on San Diego soil, the underdog Raiders intercepted the Fouts twice and beat the Chargers 34-27. They went on to beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
Goff and the Lions would relish the opportunity Fouts’ Bolts earned. Detroit has never played a Super Bowl qualifier at home.
Sounding off
Yes, the limitations of Justin Herbert’s pass-catchers could catch up with the Chargers someday. But they’re not stiffs. Much-improved Quentin Johnston has five TDs in seven games, and Ladd McConkey stands as a league-average slot receiver as a rookie.
Herbert, on balance, is well-supported. The Chargers’ offensive line, blocking tight ends, running backs and top-ranked defense are all better than their Bengals counterparts entering Sunday night’s game.
Also: Herbert benefits from a great head coach, Jim Harbaugh.
• As a football-media rookie, Bill Belichick already ranks near best-in-class.
This week, explained well the Chiefs’ game-winning blocked field Sunday that improved K.C. to 9-0.
Denver’s kicker prefers to kick off the right hashes, Belichick noted on The CW Network’s “Inside The NFL” show. Belichick showed how the alignment can be vulnerable to sharp-angled attacks from the left. Also he dug into video of Broncos left-side blocker Alex Forsyth getting bowled over fast in two prior games. Belichick linked the blocked kick to top-notch scouting and preparations under special teams coach Dave Toub, and Leo Chenal‘s perfect rush.
• Because of GM Howie Roseman‘s offseason moves, the Eagles are no less talented than the 49ers and Lions, a pair of NFC rivals. Running back Saquon Barkley has done wonders for the offense. Rookie cornerbacks Kenyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have evolved fast.
• Fouts’ fourth and final five-INT game — Sept 14, 1986 against the Giants — marked the looming end of the “Air Coryell” Chargers. Don Coryell would be fired that season; Fouts, 35, would retire a year later. “He was telegraphing his passes,” Giants Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson said after the five-pick, 20-7 win in New Jersey. Coach Bill Parcells‘ Giants, in contrast, were rising. They won the first of the club’s four Super Bowl trophies. Belichick, their defensive coordinator, would win another ring in 1990, followed by six with the Patriots as their head coach.
