Jared Goff threw four touchdown passes and the Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback was nothing short of spectacular as he led the Detroit Lions to a staggering 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field, marking the team’s eighth straight win. This game not only highlighted the Lions' explosive offense but also set various franchise records, creating one for the history books.
Starting on the right foot, the game saw the Jaguars taking the lead early when their rookie kicker, Cam Little, made a career-best 59-yard field goal on the opening drive. But this moment of triumph quickly faded as the Lions ramped up their offense. With the fast pace of the game, Detroit soon proved they were no pushovers.
Detroit’s offensive firepower was led by Goff, who completed 24 of 29 passes for 412 yards and achieved four touchdowns, punctuated by his leading targets—Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught two of those passes, and Jameson Williams, who made substantial contributions with 124 receiving yards.
The Lions showcased their offensive prowess by totaling 644 yards, setting a franchise record for most yards gained during a game. Their scoring prowess was evident as they outpaced the Jaguars by 46 points, which is the largest margin of victory for Detroit ever and simultaneously handed the Jaguars their biggest loss to date. Prior games had set their history with losses, but this exceeded every expectation by far.
"We felt like we could call anything," said Goff, expressing the ease with which the Lions moved the ball. It became clear early on the Jaguars' defense had no answers to the Lions' relentless assault and strategic gameplay.
Detroit ventured to establish early dominance, with running back David Montgomery initiating the blitz of touchdowns with his 2-yard rushing score. Following him was Jahmyr Gibbs, who powered through for another touchdown just later. Montgomery, not to be outdone, scored again, pushing the lead to 28-3 as Goff connected with St. Brown for yet another touchdown.
After halftime, the Lions showed no mercy. Goff threw yet another bomb to Williams, launching the Lions’ scored total to 35-6. By the end of the third quarter, Goff had racked up his fourth touchdown pass of the day.
For their part, the Jaguars tried to stay afloat, but their situation was dire as Mac Jones, starting again for the injured Trevor Lawrence, struggled. Jones completed 17 of 29 passes for only 138 yards, and his desperate attempt to connect ended disastrous when Lions' Kerby Joseph picked him off. The interception marked Joseph going up to seven this season, underscoring Jacksonville's alternating struggles and intrinsic woes.
Overall, the Jaguars showed signs of fight, but the game quickly spiraled out of their control as the Lions tightened their grip, leading to crumbling defense and lackluster execution on both sides of the ball for Jacksonville. Veteran head coach Doug Pederson's job security wavered visibly on the sidelines as his team succumbed to their fourth straight loss of the season.
After the game, Pederson remained noncommittal on his future. “I still have a job to do,” he emphasized, trying to quell the swirling gossip about potential changes with the team management. Meanwhile, with this significant victory, the Lions not only solidified their place at the top of the NFC but also left the post-game spotlight shrouded with questions about what lies ahead for the faltering Jaguars.
The upcoming schedule is lined for the Lions having them play at the Indianapolis Colts next. Meanwhile, the Jaguars will take the field again after their bye week against the Houston Texans—where they will seek to rise from their heavy defeat and rekindle their season.
