Does Patrick Mahomes-Jared Goff Part II live up to the original?
Thursday’s 2023 NFL Kickoff Game between the reigning world champion Kansas City Chiefs and the visiting Detroit Lions will pit two top quarterbacks against each other.
“He had a hell of a year last year…so we know Jared [Goff]Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters before practice on Sunday.
Hoping to keep game week as normal as possible, Kansas City operated on a typical Wednesday schedule.
“Jared is a good player, we know that,” Reid added. “We had this one game with the Rams a few years ago and we have a lot of respect for him.”
In that game, which featured then-Rams quarterback and rookie Patrick Mahomes, the two teams totaled over 891 passing yards and 11 total touchdowns – leaving a lasting impression on the Grim Reaper.
“He’s a great football player,” Mahomes said Sunday when asked about Goff’s recent tape. “Obviously a talented pitcher, a big guy who can run around and make a lot of big throws,” he said.
Goff finished last season with 4,438 total passing yards, 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions – leading Detroit to a 9-8 season.
“He’s won everywhere he’s been, so I know it’s going to be a big challenge for us,” Mahomes continued. “Whether it was with the Rams or last year with the Lions, he always put up stats, he always won games … and that takes something. [To] to be able to win a game when everything isn’t going perfectly…You have to have something inside of you that says, “I can go out there and find a way to win, and he’s done that his entire career.”
With the possibility of Chris Jones’ absence increasing, Kansas City’s pass rush faces the challenge of slowing down one of the league’s best throwers.
“He’s a great player, he can really do anything,” defensive lineman George Karlaftis said of Goff. “He’s like one of those elite quarterbacks. We have a lot of respect for him, he can make all the throws, he’s good on his feet and doesn’t get sacked often. So we have to be prepared for him.”
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