Jared Goff denies role in Dan Campbell's late fourth down decision vs. Packers

The criticism of Dan Campbell and his propensity to go for it on fourth down ramped back up after the Detroit Lions went for it on a 4th-and-inches late in their Week 14 win over the Green Bay Packers. Disaster almost struck when Jared Goff fell down as he went to make the handoff to David Montgomery, but the conversion happened and the Lions were able to run the rest of the clock out before the game-winning field goal.

And that was when it worked, and the Lions won the game. We know what happens when it Campbell's fourth down aggressiveness doesn't go the right way, and that's why other coaches won't do it like he does.

During his appearance on 97.1 The Ticket's "Karsch and Anderson" Tuesday, Goff talked about all the criticism of Campbell's fourth down aggression after it worked last Thursday night.

"It’s funny to hear all the criticism after it works," Goff said. "You can only imagine how bad it would have been if it didn’t work. It’s bizarre. It was a weird weekend to hear them talking about it and how critical they were of Dan on a decision that was correct in hindsight. It’s funny, everybody’s got an opinion."

Jared Goff denies any role in late fourth-down decision against the Packers

On his podcast, Prime Video analyst Richard Sherman revealed a postgame off-air conversation after last Thursday night's game, when Andrew Whitworth asked Goff about the conversation on the sideline before that late fourth-down decision.

"He (Jared Goff) was having a conversation with Andrew Whitworth", Sherman said. "Well, he's having a conversation with all of us. And Whit was like, 'hey, what was the conversation like on the sideline before that fourth and one?' Jared's summary is, Jared basically comes over and Dan's on the headset, you know, telling him, 'hey, we're kicking it, and just get the Field Goal team ready. We're gonna stand here. We're gonna talk it through, but we're gonna kick it.' And Jared, you know, dejected, is like, 'man, man! I want to go.' And Dan Campbell just looks at him and said, 'you want to do it? f*ck it we're going for it."

Goff addressed Sherman's reveal during his radio appearance.

"I think someone said that I had convinced him to do it", Goff said. "I’m like, no, I didn’t do any convincing with him. He does that all on his own and we’re fired up when he does it. It had nothing to do with me. I walked over there, asked him what the plan was, he was deliberating it and told us we were gonna go for it."

Goff's denial of a key role in that late fourth down decision against the Packers isn't necessarily surprising. But it's safe to say it wouldn't have happened if Goff showed any apprehension about it, and the next time he isn't on board with a decision by Campbell to go for it on a fourth down will probably be the first time.