NFL

Jared Goff breaks NFL ‘perfect game’ record: Who is the QB ratings leader?

The Detroit Lions quarterback enters the history books with a faultless performance against the Seattle Seahawks in MNF.

CHRISTIAN PETERSENAFP

The Detroit Lions ended the Seattle Seahawks’ 100% start to the season, thanks to a starring performance from quarterback Jared Goff on Monday Night Football.

The 29-year-old threw a perfect game, hitting the target with all 18 of his passes to help his side to a 42-29 victory. Goff’s 18/18 trounced the previous NFL record for passes without an incompletion, formerly held by Kurt Warner who went 10-for-10 for the Arizona Cardinals against the Houston Texans in 2005.

Never. I don’t think I’ve ever done it,” Goff told reporters after the game, when asked if he’d thrown a perfect game at any level. “I knew I did it in the first half last week, so I was aware of it then.”

And I was kind of aware of it today, about the middle of the third quarter. I was like, ‘I couldn’t think of one,’ but then I threw the one out of bounds that ended up being offensive pass interference and I was like, ‘Does that count?’ I didn’t know if that counted or not. But yeah, it’s a good day.”

It was a historic night for Goff on two fronts. Not only did he throw the first perfect game of his career, he briefly turned receiver to catch a touchdown pass for the first time. In the third quarter a Lions trick play, nicknamed ‘Alcatraz’, saw Amon-Ra St. Brown emerge with the ball and throw a short pass to a free Goff, running into the end zone.

“It wasn’t too hard of a route. It was like a little wheel route, late leak. For that route, I’ll give him a 7 out of 10,” St. Brown joked after the game. “It wasn’t too hard to deal.”

Who is the NFL quarterback ratings leader for 2024?

Four matches in we’re starting to get a sense of the main storylines for the new season. The Jets might struggle to make the playoffs again. Rookie MVP Jayden Daniels could be one of the best draft pick-ups of recent years. The Chiefs continue to find ways to win.

Another key trend in the early weeks of the season is the incredible form of Josh Allen, who leads ESPN’s Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) for 2024. Allen has lead the Buffalo Bills to a 3-1 record while wearing a protective glove after suffering a left hand injury in Week 1.

ESPN Total QBR leaders

  1. Josh Allen (Bills) - 82.3
  2. Andy Dalton (Panthers) - 76.1
  3. Sam Darnold (Vikings) 73.5
  4. Jayden Daniels (Commanders) - 73.3
  5. Brock Purdy (49ers) - 73.3
  6. Joe Burrow (Bengals) - 70.8
  7. Lamar Jackson (Ravens) - 68.8
  8. Kyler Murray (Cardinals) - 68.1
  9. Derek Carr (Saints) - 64.0
  10. Geno Smith (Seahwaks) - 63.9

But despite Allen’s impressive 2024 form the Bills suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday night, falling to a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. That ended the Bills’ 100% start and put paid to their 43-game run of not losing by ten or more points.

Allen suffered a number of big hits on Sunday, at one point being strip-sacked after a trick play called by offensive coordinator Joe Brady landed him in hot water. After the game Allen refused to blame Brady, insisting that it was simply good play by the defence.

Coach [Brady] called a shot, and the guy made a good play,” Allen told reporters after the loss. “That’s as simple as it is. He dove inside, and the guy made a good play. That’s what it comes down to.”

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