Analysis: Jared Goff's perfect game is a rare feat because many factors prevent QBs from doing it

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Jared Goff’s perfect game is so rare for an NFL quarterback that only one other player ever threw double-digit passes without an incompletion.

Goff was 18 for 18 on Monday night in Detroit’s 42-29 victory over Seattle, topping Kurt Warner’s 10 for 10 with Arizona on Dec. 18, 2005.

Only 10 other QBs have thrown as many passes as Goff with only one incompletion. Just five of those QBs attempted 20 passes and one threw 30. That was Drew Brees, who was 29 of 30 for the Saints against the Colts on Dec. 16, 2019.

Goff finished with 292 yards passing and two touchdowns, and also caught a TD pass for the Lions (3-1). He wasn’t aware he was perfect because he threw a ball out of bounds in the fourth quarter on a play where tight end Brock Wright was penalized for offensive pass interference. The Seahawks accepted the penalty, nullifying the incomplete pass.

“I didn’t know if that counted or not,” Goff said.

It didn’t count, putting Goff in the record book. That’s why the feat stands out. There are so many factors that could prevent quarterbacks from a perfect game. It’s common for QBs to throw the ball away under pressure. Passes are dropped, tipped, blocked at the line of scrimmage.

Everything came together for Goff.

“I was just trying to make the right play on every snap,” Goff said. “It wasn’t like we were throwing it way down the field. I was just able to find the open guy — had a few checkdowns that popped for some big gains. I thought the O-line was really incredible — they really were. They gave me the time back there to kind of have a few pocket scrambles where I’m just kind of moving around and finding the guy. It was good by them."

The other four quarterbacks who’ve thrown at least 20 passes with only one incompletion are: Philip Rivers (28 for 29), Marcus Mariota (22 for 23), Brock Purdy (20 for 21) and Gardner Minshew (19 for 20).

Coaching matters

Mike McDaniel can’t win without Tua Tagovailoa.

With Tagovailoa sidelined because of a concussion, the Miami Dolphins again struggled on offense in a 31-12 loss at home to Tennessee on Monday night.

McDaniel’s record without Tagovailoa fell to 1-6. He’s 20-13 with his star quarterback.

The Dolphins still have other star players, including All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill, wideout Jaylen Waddle and running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. Mostert didn’t play Monday and Achane has just 15 yards rushing on 10 carries. Hill has 87 yards receiving and no TDs in the past three games. He had 130 yards and a score in the opener with Tagovailoa.

“I know for a fact that I play a part in the whole thing, but it’s a collective issue for sure and we have to figure out how to score points and those guys can help us do that for sure,” McDaniel said.

The Dolphins, under McDaniel, have averaged just 15.9 points per game with Skylar Thompson or Tyler Huntley under center vs. 26.2 with Tagovailoa.

Many NFL coaches have won plenty of games with backups, including Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur going 2-0 this season with Malik Willis filling in for Jordan Love. Embattled Jaguars coach Doug Pederson won a Super Bowl in Philadelphia with backup Nick Foles.

McDaniel has an offense loaded with talent. He has to find a way to lead the Dolphins to victories without Tagovailoa.

Talent matters

Jalen Hurts has been an average quarterback without star wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Hurts had a career year in 2022 after the Eagles acquired Brown. He finished runner-up for NFL MVP and nearly led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory.

But in 33 games without Brown, who hasn’t played since Week 1 because of a hamstring injury, Hurts has a passer rating of 85.2 with 4,857 yards, 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Hurts struggles even more when Brown and DeVonta Smith aren’t on the field. With both wideouts, Hurts has completed 75% of his passes. Without both, he had completed 45% of his passes before going 18 of 30 in a 33-16 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

“I didn’t play good enough,” Hurts said, refusing to make excuses. “That’s what it comes down to. I had opportunities. We put in a lot of time this week to take advantage of this game and what we had and the guys that we had a lot of trust in, and we took advantage of some, and some we didn’t. Ultimately, it starts with me.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press