Over five years as quarterback of the Rams, Jared Goff never felt the scrutiny -- borne of passion -- that he's felt in Detroit. He's learned rather quickly that people around here live and die with the Lions.
"We beat Kansas City and everyone tells us how great we are and we lose the next game at home and now it’s like how bad we are," Goff said Wednesday on 97.1 The Ticket. "Our team gets put on that rollercoaster train by the media maybe more than anybody else of how great we are and how bad we are after wins and losses."
Asked if those emotional swings are more extreme in Detroit than in LA, Goff said, "Oh, yeah. Oh yeah."
"But it’s mostly because of the passion. It’s how much our fans care and how much true energy and time and passion they put into it. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a thing to be aware of. It’s a great thing, honestly. When you’re winning it’s a great thing, we love it, it builds momentum. But it’s something to be aware of where we can’t get over our skis when we’re 3-1 through four games with 13 games left," he said.
Goff, 28, has taken to Detroit from the moment he arrived. He said when he was traded here two years ago that "being able to play in a sports town is special" and that he was looking forward to leading a team "that has wanted it for so long."
"I know football is king here," said Goff, "and I plan to make it a winner."
Slowly but surely, he's making good on his vow. After going 3-13-1 in year one, Goff and the Lions are 12-8 since last season, 11-3 in their last 14 games. And Goff is playing, in his own words, "the best ball of my career."
He'll happily take the scrutiny that comes with it.
"We got good players, good coaches, we got a good system here, we got a good culture," he said. "It’s a great place to be, and yeah, it’s been fun."