Earlier this week, Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders revealed a rather remarkable stat about the number of defensive pass interference calls quarterbacks have benefited from this season. It also stands as the number of pass interference calls said quarterback's team has drawn this season (through Week 16).
An astonishing stat this year: Jared Goff has only benefited from 1 DPI for 5 yards. Compare that to the top QBs in DPI:
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) December 23, 2024
Stafford 16/240
Darnold 14/311
Burrow 14/218
Smith 14/200
Rodgers 12/173
Curious about the MVP candidates? Allen is 9/133 and Jackson is 5/67.
The Lions have drawn one defensive pass interference call all season, for five yards (since it's a spot foul). It's unclear if that's any kind of record, but if it stays that way through the final two regular season games it would almost have to be.
Weighed against drawing a lot of pass interference calls this season, especially early, Lions fans will surely lean into the idea the officials are biased against their team somehow. But there's actually a viable explanation for why the Lions have drawn just one pass interference penalty through 15 games.
Why the Lions have only drawn 1 pass interference penalty all season
Pass interference penalties have some roots in downfield "50-50" throws into tight windows. That's not all-encompassing, but using Pro Football Focus' classifications of "big-time throws" and "turnover-worthy plays", here's where the five quarterbacks Schatz particularly highlighted rank this season (Geno Smith has played in Week 17). Turnover-worthy plays also include ball security/fumbles.
Matthew Stafford: 21 big-time throws (tied for 10th), 18 turnover-worthy plays (tied for 4th)
Sam Darnold: 31 big-time throws (3rd), 21 turnover-worthy plays (third)
Joe Burrow: 32 big-time throws (2nd), 14 turnover-worthy throws (19th)
Geno Smith: 27 big-time throws (6th), 18 turnover-worthy plays (tied for 4th)
Aaron Rodgers: 24 big-time throws (tied for 7th), 11 turnover-worthy plays (26th)
By comparison, PFF has Goff with 14 big-time throws (tied for 21st) and 16 turnover-worthy plays (tight for eighth). Narrowing to turnover-worthy throws (with a big h/t to Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports since I can't seem to find they way to narrow to just throws), Goff has just two of those all season.
The difference between Goff and the quarterbacks who have benefited most from defensive pass interference penalties is rooted in sheer pass volume. Darnold has thrown the ball less than Goff, and Stafford is in close proximity with more attempts, but Burrow, Smith and Rodgers have thrown the ball a lot more than Goff this season. The teams of all five of those quarterbacks are also 18th or worse in the league in rushing, while the Lions are sixth.
Goff simply doesn't have to be risky with his passes. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are also very good at getting separation, which helps reduce the risk attached to downfield throws and the sheer volume of what we'd call tight-window throws. Fewer risky downfield throws and fewer tight-window throws pretty easily equals few pass interference penalties.
There's no getting around how weird it is that the Lions have drawn only one pass interference penalty all season, and for such little yardage to boot. But there's a viable statistical explanation for it, and it's broadly a testament to how all-around good the Lions are.