Cold Weather Issues Very Real for Jared Goff at Soldier Field

The temperature has been down in Chicago through much of December and this can only be bad news for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff Sunday at Soldier Field, although the Lions seem to have many other challenges in this game.
It's been called an overrated statistic or a myth by Lions fans and formerly by Rams fans, but the Detroit QB really does not perform well when the temperature drops.
Bears fans first saw this in 2018, the last season they won the NFC North. Goff came in with the Rams and a dominant Bears defense that year ruled the day on Dec. 9, 2018 with a 15-6 win. They picked off Goff four times. He went 20 of 44 for 180 yards for a passer rating of 19.1.
The ironic thing about this was it wasn't even the worst weather Goff had played in that year and he won in that earlier game. The Rams played an Oct. 14 game in Denver and there was a freakish fall cold spell when the temperature hit 25 degrees with 18 degrees wind chill and the Rams won 23-20, although Goff struggled with a pick and a 58.8 passer rating.
1st & North, TONIGHT 9:30pm Fox 32, did u hear #lions coach Dan Campbell today? how good is #packers defense? anyone worried about Caleb Williams? #vikings & @chicagobears brought in GM & head coach at same time, what happened to Bears? @HammerFox2 @fox6now @fox2 @fox9 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/yeoabeFGWR
β Lou Canellis FOX 32 (@LouCanellis) December 18, 2024
Goff seems to have improved somewhat as he's had the chance to play more in such weather but his performance still has been noticeably worse in the cold.
In 12 games with air temperature 39 degrees or colder for his career, Goff is 224 of 394 for 2,485 yards with 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 75.53. His yards per attempt is just 6.3. That's quite a bit below his 95.1 career passer rating and 7.5 yards per attempt.
Itβs ok to admit it Bears fans. The Bears made a mistake by trading Justin Fields. I thought the guy they brought in was going to be better. But DβAndre Swift just hasnβt lived up to his contract
β Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) December 17, 2024
Taking it down a few degrees to freezing wind chill at 32 degrees, he has played 10 times and went 188 of 303 for 2,203 yards with six touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 78.58 passer rating. His team is 4-5-1 in wind chill of 32 or worse and 6-5-1 when the air temperature is 39 or colder.
The forecast for Sunday is temperatures around 30 to freezing.
Ryan Poles OL investments:
β Iπ§Έ (@ilannfl) December 17, 2024
β’ Braxton Jones - Mid
β’ Kiran Amegadjie - Awful
β’ Doug Kramer - Awful
β’ Nate Davis - π
β’ Coleman Shelton - Mid
β’ Darnell Wright - Good
β’ Dan Feeney - π
β’ Ryan Bates - π
β’ Teven Jenkins - Ryan Pace
OL mastermind.
Last year the first-place Lions came to face the Bears in December at Soldier Field and the Bears shut them out in the second half and won 28-13. Goff went 20 of 35 for 161 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for a passer rating of 54.6.
Of course, all of this talk of Goff playing worse in cold weather doesn't really mention when he does it he is playing on the road, since all the Detroit home games are indoors and the Rams played indoors as well. And most quarterbacks play worse on the road than at home, anyway.
Kay: "Would you ever play for the Bears?"
β Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 17, 2024
Davante Adams: "No."
At least @tae15adams was honest π @heykayadams | #Bears pic.twitter.com/fCMMqEHTkf
Goff has a 100.4 passer rating at home for his career and 89.7 on the road. But that 89.7 on the road is much lower on the road in the cold.
Perhaps it means even less this week when the quarterback his team goes against hasn't exactly been tested by "The Hawk" coming in off the lake at Soldier Field himself. It hasn't been colder than 47 degrees at game time for Caleb Williams at home yet.
Williams played college football at two warmer weather schools, although he did play high school ball in the Washington DC area. High school football usually is usually over when the coldest weather rolls in, though.
1. No ones talking about Caleb having 8 TDs and 0 INTs over the last 8 games which is a gauntlet of a schedule
β Austin (@BadTakeFuges) December 17, 2024
2. Nix and Daniels are benefactors of really solid teams and coaching staffs. Along with very easy schedules. And Caleb is still outperforming them in some areas https://t.co/zyklnP6Gw9
Goff isn't all the Bears have to worry about when Detroit comes to Soldier Field.
Here are the other potential matchup problems the Bears face, but they're greatly softened by not facing David Montgomery and any number of other injured Lions like Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson.
This may be Jared Goffs best game as a Lion and it's a blowout loss lol
β THEBehuniak (@THEBehuniak) December 16, 2024
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
St. Brown had to pick up the pace with the Lions losing by multiple scores in the second half last week against Buffalo and had a career day with his bests of 14 catches and 194 yards. Kyle Gordon and the Bears secondary limited St. Brown to five catches for 73 yards in the Thanksgiving Day nightmare. They have usually had decent success with limiting St. Brown. He averages 5.7 catches and 63.6 yards a game against them for seven appearances. His career average is 6.5 catches and 73.7 yards a game.
Also donβt put it past #DaBears brass if the #Bears somehow beat an injury-riddled Lions team with Jared Goff hating being in the cold and then a quick turnaround win over the Seahawks as evidence to keep Ryan Poles.
β Todd Welter (@toddjdub) December 17, 2024
Only way GM goes is if this team finishes 4-13
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs broke is 945-yard mark of last year and the 1,000-yard mark and is now at 1,047 and the Lions will lean heavily on him with Montgomery lost to a knee injury. Sione Vaki and Craig Reynolds are options for the Lions now without the thunder part of their thunder-and-lightning backfield attack. Reynolds has experience with six seasons and 132 carries. Vaki is a rookie fourth-rounder from Utah. Both are bigger than Gibbs, who will bring the speed at the Bears defense. They'll also use wide receivers to carry the ball at times.
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T Penei Sewell
The Lions' right tackle has slipped a bit in Pro Football Focus' grading since their last meeting with the Bears, but still ranks fourth among tackles and is No. 2 among run blockers. He handled Montez Sweat last time and seems to be headed for a third Pro Bowl appointment in three years.
Bears/Lions under 48.5 (-110) π
β Sandy Plashkes (@SandyPlashkes) November 13, 2022
Gave this out on "Wake Up Call" Friday night @notamush
Over the last 4 weeks, the Lions have only scored more than 15 points once. I also think there's too much hype around the Bears offense.
Jared Goff in cold weather? Give me the under π€ pic.twitter.com/dbCZHbOwH8
C Frank Ragnow
The veteran Lions center is graded third at his position in the league and third blocking the run but he has been graded as a mediocre pass blocker. The Bears haven't had Andrew Billings for a while now and Gervon Dexter is out so protecting the middle against the blocking by Ragnow and the Lions' line will be left with reserves. Ragnow has two sacks allowed and six penalties.
TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta had been experiencing a down second season as a receiver, as compared to his rookie year, but in the last two games his production has soared. He had five catches for 54 yards against the Packers and then seven for 111 yards against the Bills. This came after the Bears held him to 6 yards on three catches last time, but two of those went for TDs.
The NFL fined #Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson $19,697 for tripping Jameson Williams which led to this. pic.twitter.com/ujfdIHXDNx
β Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) December 7, 2024
WR Jameson Williams
Williams finally has stepped forth with 42 catches this season and hurt the Bears a few times in their first meeting. His great speed is the issue for any secondary. He'll drop some passes and his route running needs polishing but keeping up with him when he gets rolling is difficult for the fastest cornerbacks.
LB Jack Campbell
His open-field hit at Caleb Williams' knee pushed the limits of sportsmanship, even though he definitely had the right to make a hit because the Bears QB wasn't out of bounds yet. Going right at a player's knee who obviously can be pushed out or tackled by being simply wrapped up represents the borderline attitude of Dan Campbell, who prefers to bite knees instead. Campbell is better than such behavior and has shown it with 109 tackles and four pass breakups. Campbell could eventually be a star in this defense, or he can be someone with a reputation for doing things regarded as marginal on the field.
S Kerby Joseph
The former Illini safety is up to seven picks this year, although he's gone dry now for four straight games without going more than one game without one through Week 11. Challenging the Lions' secondary has been easier with more players going out injured but Joseph back in coverage still makes it risky. He had one of his 10 pass breakups in the earlier Bears game.
Edge Za'Darius Smith
There are other Lions players who could rate as problems but Smith is always a problem to the Bears. He was with the Packers and Vikings and had sacks against them. Then he made one for the Lions in the last game.
ZaβDarius Smith has generated 19 pressures since making his Lions debut in Week 11.
β ππ₯π’ ππ’π±π―π¬π¦π± ππ¦πͺπ’π° π° (@the_det_times) December 12, 2024
From Weeks 11-14 thatβs tied for the THIRD MOST over that time span π₯
H/T: @SpeakEZsports_ | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/XxuFAypSxh
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