SportsOctober 1, 2024

Detroit quarterback connects on all 18 of his passes in 42-29 win over Seahawks

Larry Lage Associated Press
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) catches a 8-yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) catches a 8-yard reception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith kneels on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith kneels on the field after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and forces a fumble but is recovered by Smith during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and forces a fumble but is recovered by Smith during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP Jose Juarez
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery falls into the endzone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery falls into the endzone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP Jose Juarez
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP Jose Juarez
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) recovers a fumble from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf and runs downfield during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) recovers a fumble from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf and runs downfield during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP Jose Juarez
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) hits Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and forces a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) hits Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and forces a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP Jose Juarez
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff tosses the football into the stands after his rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff tosses the football into the stands after his rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Paul Sancya

DETROIT — Jared Goff threw a perfect game, setting an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes to help the Detroit Lions beat the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 Monday night.

“I just gave the game ball to somebody else, so I feel awful,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not know he was perfect.”

Kurt Warner had the previous league mark for the most passes without an incompletion, going 10-for-10 for Arizona against Houston in 2005.

“It’s a cool thing,” Goff said. “I’m just happy we got the win.”

Goff did throw an incomplete pass, but it was negated by a penalty.

“I was like, does that count?” he recalled wondering.

Goff also had a touchdown reception for the first time in his career, catching a pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown, and threw one of his two touchdown passes to the All-Pro receiver. Goff and St. Brown are the eighth duo in league history to throw and catch a touchdown from each other.

St. Brown lobbed a 7-yard pass to Goff on a trick play in the the third quarter and caught an 8-yard touchdown from the quarterback in the fourth.

Goff, who threw for 292 yards, completed his first 14 passes in Detroit’s previous win at Arizona to set a personal record that lasted a little more than a week. He also threw a pass over the middle to Jameson Williams, who ran away from the Seahawks for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

The Lions (3-1) asked Goff to throw one more time from his end zone and he was sacked for a safety with 2:01 remaining, cutting their lead to 13 points.

The Seahawks (3-1) simply could not overcome an injury-depleted defense that could not stop Detroit on the ground or through the air.

“It shows we aren’t the team we want to be,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said.

Macdonald went for it on fourth-and-4 from the Detroit 39 early in the fourth and receiver Tyler Lockett negated a first down with pass interference, getting called for running a pick play that freed up Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a catch.

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“They said he picked the guy, but I think we all saw he never made contact with him,” Smith said.

Macdonald went for it again on fourth-and-goal from the Detroit 3 with 2:09 to go and Geno Smith threw a fourth straight incompletion.

The Lions took advantage and went ahead by 15 points with 5:23 left when Goff a high pass to St. Brown, who leaped for the catch and got both feet in the end zone.

Jahmyr Gibbs ran for two touchdowns in the second quarter and finished with 78 yards rushing. David Montgomery started the scoring barrage with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 93-yard drive that took 7-plus minutes off the clock in the first quarter, and had 80 yards from scrimmage.

Smith was 38-of-56 for 395 yards with a 9-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end AJ Barner in the third quarter on a drive he extended with a sneak on fourth down. He threw an interception in the end zone to Kerby Joseph with a minute left, sealing Seattle’s first setback this season.

“Even when we were down 14, we knew we had a chance to come back,” Smith said.

DK Metcalf had seven catches for 104 yards and a costly fumble at the Detroit 37 in the first quarter.

Kenneth Walker, who gained 80 yards on 12 carries, had a career-high three touchdowns rushing.

Tennessee 31, Miami 12

Mason Rudolph was happy to help lead the Tennessee Titans to their first win of the season on Monday, even though he felt like he didn’t have to do much.

Nick Folk helped him with five field goals, and Rudolph led seven scoring drives after starter Will Levis left with a shoulder injury in the 31-12 win.

“I didn’t do a whole lot, that’s for sure,” Rudolph said. “Tony (Pollard) and the O-line and Tyjae (Spears) just mauled them up front. Moved the ball, controlled the ball in the second half. We protected the ball there in the second half and got out with the win.”

Rudolph threw for 85 yards and completed 9-of-17 passes in relief of Levis, who attempted just four passes before injuring his right throwing shoulder on a scramble.

Brian Callahan, who got his first win as the Titans’ coach, said Levis tried to go back in but was in pain. Tennessee’s upcoming bye week factored into the decision to hold him out.

Folk made field goals of 53, 52, 47, 51 and 29 yards. Spears took a direct snap and ran it in for a 7-yard touchdown. Pollard had a 4-yard touchdown run to go with 88 yards on 22 carries. The Titans (1-3) rushed for 142 yards.

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