Jared Goff delivered a flawless performance, setting an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes to guide the Detroit Lions to a 42-29 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.
"It's great when the ball doesn't hit the ground... I was trying to recall if I had an incompletion, but I couldn't quite remember, though I knew I had a shot," Goff remarked when asked if he was conscious of his historic feat during the game. Goff also achieved a career first by catching a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St Brown, and he threw one of his two touchdown passes to the All-Pro receiver. Goff and St Brown became the eighth duo in league history to exchange touchdown passes.
St Brown executed a seven-yard pass to Goff on a trick play in the third quarter and caught an eight-yard touchdown from his quarterback in the fourth. Goff, who threw for 292 yards, completed his first 14 passes in Detroit's previous win against Arizona, setting a personal record that lasted just over a week. On Monday, he also connected with Jameson Williams for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
The Seahawks (3-1) struggled to overcome their injury-ridden defense, which failed to contain Detroit's ground and aerial attacks. Seattle coach Mike Macdonald attempted a fourth-and-four from the Detroit 39 early in the fourth, but receiver Tyler Lockett's pass interference negated a first down. Macdonald tried again on fourth-and-goal from the Detroit three-yard line with 2:09 left, but Geno Smith threw his fourth consecutive incomplete pass.
Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs scored two touchdowns in the second quarter and finished with 78 yards rushing. Teammate David Montgomery initiated the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 93-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes in the first quarter, and contributed 80 yards from scrimmage.
Smith completed 38 of 56 passes for 395 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end AJ Barner in the third quarter. He threw an interception in the end zone to Kerby Joseph with a minute left, sealing Seattle's first loss of the season.
In Monday's other game, the Tennessee Titans defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-12. Mason Rudolph led seven scoring drives after starter Will Levis exited with a shoulder injury. Rudolph threw for 85 yards and completed 9 of 17 passes in relief of Levis, who attempted just four passes before sustaining his injury.
Nick Folk made field goals of 53, 52, 47, 51, and 29 yards for the Titans, who secured their first win of the season. Running back Tyjae Spears scored a seven-yard touchdown on a direct snap, and Tony Pollard added a four-yard touchdown run with 88 yards on 22 carries.
Tyler Huntley, who joined the Dolphins on September 17 from Baltimore's practice squad, scored a touchdown and had 96 passing yards. However, the Dolphins' offense continued to falter without Tua Tagovailoa, who remains on injured reserve with a concussion. Huntley brought the Dolphins (1-3) within 10 points with a one-yard run with 3:40 left, but his two-point conversion attempt was intercepted, and the Titans recovered the ensuing onside kick.