18-for-18 passing, plus one touchdown catch

Jared Goff went all out against Sandy Koufax on Monday Night Football, throwing a perfect game in the Detroit Lions’ 42-29 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Two weeks before his 30th birthday, the former Cal star set an NFL record by completing all 18 of his pass attempts for 292 yards with two touchdowns. According to an ESPN release, it was the most passing yards without an incompletion in NFL history.

Goff also had an interesting performance: He finished the game with more touchdown catches than incompletions.

Goff caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to give Detroit a 28-14 lead midway through the third quarter. His only previous reception in an NFL game was a 5-yarder against Miami in 2022.

Lions coach Dan Campbell apparently had no idea immediately after the game that Goff was 18-for-18.

“I just gave the ball to someone else. I feel terrible,” he said. “I knew he had a great game. I didn’t know he was perfect.”

The previous NFL record for passes without an incompletion was held by Kurt Warner when he went 10 for 10 for Arizona against Houston in 2005.

As always, Goff reacted cautiously to the whole thing. “It’s a cool thing,” Goff said. “I’m just glad we got the win.”

Here’s Goff’s TD catch:

Both of Goff’s TD passes came after he scored: a 70-yarder to Jameson Williams with 2:52 left in the third quarter and an 8-yarder to St. Brown that cut Detroit’s lead to 42 with 5:23 left. 27 expanded.

His passer rating of 155.8 is below the NFL’s maximum “perfect” score of 158.3 because he didn’t throw enough touchdown passes. Goff hit 158.3 with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, completing 26 of 33 passes for 465 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings.

Goff was sacked three times, including for a 4-yard loss and a safety with 2:05 left that allowed Seattle to get within 13 points.

Goff came into the game having thrown more interceptions (4) than touchdowns (3) this season. The Lions improved to 3-1 while also handing the Seahawks their first loss in four games.

.