Vikings Ending Jared Goff’s Lions’ Playoff Hopes With 3 Total Passing Yards Has NFL Fans In Splits – “Downfall Needs To Be Studied”

Starting quarterback Jared Goff and his Detroit Lions have lost six of the nine games after their Week Eight bye.

Vikings Ending Jared Goff’s Lions’ Playoff Hopes With 3 Total Passing Yards Has NFL Fans In Splits – “Downfall Needs To Be Studied”

Jared Goff and his Lions are eliminated from playoffs (Image via 42Cyc/X)

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This season was going to be a trying time for Jared Goff and his Detroit Lions, as they lost both their leading coordinators, which meant head coach Dan Campbell had a tough task on his shoulders.

After injuries stopped the resurgent franchise from making something out of their 2024 campaign, the team was hopeful that healthy players would at least make up for the loss of their leading play-callers.

Up until their Week 8 bye, it seemed as if the team was not struggling, as they posted a 5-2 record, which gave their fans hope that the transition period was going to be easier than expected. Then, they lost five of their next eight games, which saw the Michigan-based franchise drop from being one of the leaders in the NFC North to one that needed to win both its final games to keep its postseason streak alive.

With both games against divisional rivals, Dan Campbell and his team had some hope. When facing the Minnesota Vikings at their home, the Lions managed to keep pace with their opponents.

More importantly, the away team managed to keep the Vikings’ offense, playing without starting QB JJ McCarthy, restricted in the passing game.

The home team leaned on its running game, as its aerial attack struggled all game long to record just 3 total passing yards. Usually, such numbers would mean that Jared Goff would have an easy day in his job.

Fans troll Jared Goff and his Lions for embarrassing end to season

Jared Goff did manage to connect with his receivers to notch 197 yards and one touchdown. But then, he threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball three times.

Along with Jahmyr Gibbs‘ fumble, the Detroit Lions ended up posting more turnovers than the yards the Minnesota Vikings could cover through the air. Watching the away team implode in such a manner left fans in stitches.

Not only were they trolling Jared Goff for his five-turnover effort on Christmas Day, but they were also making fun of Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions for letting their overconfidence cost them dearly. Check out examples of those reactions below:

Fans believe the loss of former coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn was too much for one of the oldest franchises in the NFL, which also happens to be a perennial underdog. They now believe that the organization has a lot to think about.

Jared Goff and Lions’ loss helps Green Bay Packers make playoffs

No one expected the Ben Johnson-led Chicago Bears to be this good this early, as they lead the NFC North. On the other hand, not many believed the Vikings would be able to win enough games, as their rookie QB was bound to suffer growing pains.

Jared Goff fumbling the ball
Jared Goff fumbling the ball (Image via BR Gridiron/X)

In what should have been a two-way fight for the division crown, it turned out to be a three-way battle to win. The Vikings were eliminated early, which meant the three remaining teams had a fight on their hands for two playoff spots.

Had Jared Goff and his Detroit Lions not struggled this late in the season, they would have been in a better position. Instead, their third-consecutive defeat handed the Green Bay Packers a postseason berth.

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