Can Jared Goff Play Well at 49ers' Open-Air Stadium?
A growing theory among TV’s supposed experts is that former Cal star and current Lions quarterback Jared Goff won’t perform well in Sunday’s NFC championship game against the 49ers because it will be played at an open-air venue – Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Goff didn’t seem to have much trouble playing it open-air venues in his three seasons at Cal. He still holds Cal’s career and single-season records for both passing yards and passing touchdowns while never playing in a domed stadium.
However, the results of the 2023 NFL season have led some to believe Goff and the Lions offense will struggle without the perfect condition provided by an enclosed stadium. And it’s hard to argue with the numbers.
The Lions played five games in open-air venues this season, and they were just 3-2 in those games while averaging 18.8 points. Goff completed 62.6% of his passes in those games for an average of 252.2 yards per game, barely had more touchdown passes (five) than interceptions (four), and had an 82.02 passer rating.
In the Lions 14 games in enclosed stadiums, Detroit went 11-3 and averaged 30.1 points, more than 11 points per game more than in open stadiums. Goff’s statistics were better too. At enclosed venues this season, he completed 69.8% of his passes for 279.4 yards per game, 28 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 106.69 passer rating.
The Lions have played their past six games in domed stadiums, and their only loss in those games was that one-point defeat in Arlington, Texas, when Detroit’s go-ahead, two-point conversion was negated by the controversial call about an offensive tackle not properly reporting in as an eligible receiver.
The Lions have not played “outdoors” since their 28-13 road loss to the Chicago Bears on December 10, a game in which Goff threw for just 161 yards with one touchdown pass, two interceptions and 56.4 passer rating.
So do the 2023 numbers suggest doom for Goff and the Lions’ offense on Sunday,? Of course, going against a 49ers defense that ranked third in the NFL in scoring defense during the regular season, yielding just 15.5 points per game, may have something to do with Detroit’s offensive efficiency.
One other note: In 2022, Detroit went 4-2 in open-air stadiums with Goff as quarterback, and 5-6 in enclosed stadiums.
One more note: Goff has played four games at Levi’s Stadium, all while with the Rams, and went 2-2 in those games. He had one of the best games of his career in 2017 when he went 22-for28 for 292 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 145.8 passer rating in a 41-29 victory over the 49ers at Levi's Stadium. But he had a mediocre game at Levi’s Stadium in his most recent game there in 2020, when he was 19-for-38 for 198 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 72.0 passer rating in a 24-16 loss to the Niners.
One final note: Goff’s playoff completion percentage with the Ram was 57.4%, and with the Lions his postseason completion rate is 74.3%. His postseason passer rating with the Rams was 79.92. With the Lions it’s 108.87.
Cover photo of Jared Goff by Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA TODAY NETWORK
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