Jared Goff thinks the Lions could have scored 50 points on the Eagles

The Detroit Lions left some offensive opportunities on the field Sunday, and Jared Goff lamented them with a number in mind after the game. 

The Detroit Lions had a solid offensive showing Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, scoring 35 points and putting up 386 yards. If not for a pick-six by Eagles’ cornerback James Bradberry, the Lions would have pulled the upset in a 38-35 loss.

After scoring on their opening drive, Detroit’s offense went on a four-possession drought with three three-and-outs and capped by the pick-six on a miscommunication between Jared Goff and T.J. Hockenson. Overall, missed throws and drops were costly as the Eagles took a lead.

Goff talked about that stretch of possessions after the game, via the Lions’ website.

"That’s ultimately what we’ll look at what hurt us the most,” “Lot of mental errors mostly. Stuff that can be cleaned up easily, but stuff that can’t happen on gameday. Hopefully we can attribute it to first game stuff and hopefully next week stuff like that isn’t happening.”We left a lot of points out there,” Goff said. “Tip your cap to the Eagles, they’re a damn good team, but we shot ourselves in the foot all day long. Specifically on that lull.”"

Jared Goff thinks the Lions could’ve/should’ve hung 50 points on the Eagles

Goff had a money quote, via Paula Pasche of Lions Lowdown.

"We felt like we could have scored 50 points,’’ Goff said. “We shot ourselves in the foot.’’"

Goff is stretching into hyberbole of course. But a cleaner performance from the Lions’ offense on Sunday feels like it could have indeed yielded 40-50 points, when they put up 35 as it was. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s first game as a play caller was also clearly what could be expected from a first game as a play caller, with room to get better.

Better execution for the Lions’ offense starts with Goff, and he knows it based on his words and demeanor after Sunday’s game. First game kinks are expected, but any excuses attached to them are now gone too.