Lions point to Jared Goff-Ben Johnson’s bond for high-level offensive play

ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s play has improved since first-year offensive coordinator Ben Johnson earned more say regarding the offensive attack late last season.

Goff’s stats are better, the team is winning more, and it’s hard to miss the still-growing level of comfort from the veteran quarterback in his second season in Detroit. And second-year Lions head coach Dan Campbell thinks the relationship between Goff and Johnson was strong from the get, with it only growing as each game passes. Johnson took over as de-facto passing game coordinator when Campbell replaced Anthony Lynn as the team’s offensive playcaller before the 2021 Week 10 game. Johnson, who was the team’s tight ends coach, was named offensive coordinator this past offseason.

“Well, I think more than anything, it’s when you’re around each other, and you’re able to figure each other out on how each other things, how they work, what their strengths are, maybe things they’re not comfortable with on both sides,” Campbell said. “Then, you can really, I think, produce at a higher level as a coach and as a player. And I think that’s where we’re at right now. I think like anything else, there’s been growing pains throughout the whole thing, but I think we’re to the point where now those two know exactly who each other are and what they’re looking for, and that’s a nice place to be at.”

Campbell added he feels Goff and Johnson’s relationship has been the same, saying it was as strong as when he was calling plays to what it is now with latter taking over. The Lions opened last year 0-8, then went 3-5-1 down the stretch after the switch. Goff completed 67.74% of his passes for 1,250 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in those six games. And that was after Goff struggled through his first eight games around these parts, throwing eight touchdowns to six interceptions in that span.

Goff said he feels he’s playing some of the best football of his career heading into the final five games, with the Lions in the postseason picture. He added he’s settled into the offense and that he and Johnson “have a good thing going.”

“He’s very unique in his own way. I don’t know, I mean -- I’ve got to be careful how much I keep pumping him up, but no, I’m joking,” Goff said. “He’s great. He’s unique in his own way. I think the best thing about him is his communication and the way he listens, and the way he takes our input and is constantly communicating and keeping us all in the same page. That’s the best thing about him. That’s the best thing about most coaches I’ve been around that are any good, and he does a great job with that as well as just leading us. He does a great job leading and putting guys in the right spot.

“I think he respects my career up to this point and respects what I’ve done and as well as I do for him. And knowing how smart he is and we have a good working relationship. And again, a guy that I’m happy to play with.”

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Goff hasn’t been shy in pointing to Johnson valuing his input on the offense. Johnson and Goff watched tape together, constructing the new-look offense during the offseason. And that’s something that resonated with the quarterback, with Goff saying he feels he’s earned that type of input at this point of his career.

“I’ve got my ideas, and he’s got his ideas and nine times out of 10, his ideas win,” Goff said. “So, I’m just playing quarterback, but at the same time, he does take what I say with real -- legit take a look at it and see if we like it, see if it fits and if it does, we’ll use it. If it doesn’t, no problem, but at the end of the day, he’s calling the plays and I’m just making them work. We’ve got a good relationship, though, but yes, to answer your question. He will take my stuff, and at times he won’t, and that’s OK.

“Ten out of 10, we’re on the same page. We’ll get on the same page eventually, no matter what play we’re running, but throughout the week that’s always the one thing that you do is making sure you’re on the same page by Sunday. And I think specifically in these games that we’ve been winning the last five weeks, we’ve been really on the same page.”

And while it hasn’t been perfect, the offensive growth has been noticeable, fresh off the Lions winning 40-14 in Week 13, scoring all eight times they touched the ball, not counting the victory formation.

The Lions rank ninth in overall offensive DVOA, slotting 11th in passing DVOA. Detroit’s offense averages the seventh-most net passing yards per attempt (6.8), and they rank 10th on third down (42.8%) and are tops in the league in red-zone scoring percentage (73.9%). They’re sixth in the league while averaging 26.3 points per game, so it’s all clicking on that side of the ball.

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Goff completed 31 of 41 passes for 340 yards with two touchdowns in the team’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. The offense scored on all eight possessions, converting eight-of-12 third-down plays. Goff’s 31 completions were the most since his first game in Detroit. And those 340 passing yards were the second-most of his tenure with the Lions (378 yards in Week 4).

His completion percentage for the campaign is down (64.9%) from 2021. But Goff is throwing downfield more, with 3,022 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 28-year-old hasn’t thrown an interception for four games or lost a fumble since the Week 6 meltdown in Dallas.

“Feel good. I feel like we’re in a good place,” Goff said. “I feel good personally, and whenever the quarterback can play well, the offense usually plays well. And the team will usually play well, so I’m focused on doing my job and being the best I can be.

“I do, I do. I feel like I am playing the best football of my career right now, and I’m starting to settle in a little bit, and Ben and I have a good thing going. Still a lot of work to do, and you can always improve and look at ways to get better, but I am comfortable and hope to continue that through the season.”