Rams vs Lions: Prepare for a crazy wild Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs

Goff has every reason to show up his former head coach

Let's not kid ourselves. The reports that surfaced after the 2020 NFL season for the LA Rams may have described a rapidly deteriorating and somewhat toxic relationship between LA Rams Head Coach Sean McVay and LA Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff, but that was likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Immediately after the Rams were ousted in the 2021 NFL Playoffs by losing to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, Coach McVay swore to introduce competition at every position, but especially at quarterback. That message from a head coach congealed into reports that Rams Head Coach Sean McVay was so furious with QB Jared Goff that he set the wheels turning to get rid of him at the first opportunity. Of course, there were valid reasons for the team and the player to part ways, but how it all took place was a bit cringe-worthy.

Fast-forward to the 2024 NFL Playoffs, and quaterback Jared Goff has proven his doubters and critics wrong on many fronts. Is he a Super Bowl winning QB? That remains to be seen. But he has flourished in an offense that is not inspired by Coach McVay. In fact, his production for the Detroit Lions in the past two seasons have rivaled his best years in the LA Rams offense.

This game may not truly be about Jared Goff trying to exorcise the demons haunting him since being expelled from the LA Rams, but you can bet that will absolutely be the narrative set both before the game, and for many months afterward. Goff is a very good quarterback who has led the Lions to great achievements in only three seasons. But that will all be forgotten if he loses to his former team.