Jared Goff for MVP? Add Aaron Rodgers to the list of backers. The future Hall of Famer and former Lions tormenter showered Goff in praise Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show.
"First of all, I love Jared," Rodgers said. "He’s definitely a guy I pull for. He was written off, for sure. He was definitely written off. When the trade happened with Matthew (Stafford) — and I frickin’ love Matthew, too, he’s one of my favorite players to watch — the sentiment wasn’t, ‘Oh, just trading places for these guys.’ It was, 'Oh, the Lions gave up a franchise quarterback for Jared Goff.’ I mean, that’s what the sentiment was, I’m not speaking out of my ass here. But what he’s done is nothing less than sensational."
In four seasons in Detroit, Goff has reestablished himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He's better now than ever. He leads the league this year with a completion percentage of 74.9, which would break Drew Brees' single-season record of 74.4. (Rodgers' best completion percentage in a single year was 70.7.) Goff is also second to only reigning MVP Lamar Jackson with a career-high passer rating of 115.0, while leading the best team in the NFC.
Oh, and he's thrown fewer incompletions (22) than the Lions have scored offensive touchdowns (26) over their six-game win streak. Rodgers can only marvel at his fellow Cal product. Referencing the aforementioned stat, "You're like, how is this possible?" Rodgers said.
"It’s wild. And one other stat was like, he had four straight games of not throwing an incompletion in the first half or something stupid like that. It’s bananas," Rodgers said. "And give credit to his coordinator, for sure, but please give credit to this man. This is not easy. And being that efficient is a testament for any quarterback, young or old. He’s throwing the ball downfield accurately, but he’s being really smart with the football," Rodgers said.
By the standard of both passer rating and completion percentage, Goff is on the greatest six-game stretch in NFL history. And for as much as he benefits from a top-notch coordinator in Ben Johnson, an elite offensive line and an array of weapons, "I don’t think you can give Jared enough credit," said Rodgers. Goff led the Lions into Rodgers' old stomping grounds last week and completed 18 of 22 passes in windy, rainy conditions in a dominant win for Detroit.
"You can say, 'Oh, you know, he’s got great skill guys, but there’s a guy pulling the trigger and he has been really damn good," Rodgers said. "Super efficient, ball’s on time, ball’s coming out. They got a good line — yeah, yeah, yeah, tell me all about how great their supporting cast is — but Mr. Two Gloves there, he was just business as usual, wasn’t he?"
Goff was 10 years old when Rodgers entered the NFL. Rodgers would spent most of the next two decades dominating the NFC North in Green Bay. Now Goff is 30 and flipping the division upside down in Detroit, as the Lions aim for their second straight title for the first time since 1956.
"Jared, man, he’s been playing incredible," said Rodgers. "I gotta give him -- we all gotta give him the credit he deserves, because the dude’s been dialing it up. Yeah, he’s got some weapons and yeah, the line's really good, and two good backs, but this dude has been on fire, and he should be in the MVP consideration."