Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is starting to make a compelling case for NFL MVP as national buzz around the 11th-year signal-caller begins to grow following a 14-touchdown, zero-interception start to the season.
ESPN analyst Ben Solak tagged Goff as a sleeper candidate for the league's most prestigious individual award earlier this week, noting his remarkable efficiency through six games.
I love the rhythm and comfort with which Goff is playing this season -- this, more than anything, seems reminiscent of the Ben Johnson era and what was absent in the brief John Morton intermission last season. Drew Petzing and the improvements along the entire Lions offensive line have Goff playing with urgency but control -- comfort without laziness.
Goff will never be an extended-play maven, and that lack of rushing production will always narrow his path to an MVP award. But on pure pass attempts -- no scrambles, no sacks, no nothing -- Goff has collected 82.2 EPA through six games. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is second at 59.6...
Goff is far from a favorite at this stage, and rightfully so. Burrow is the one throwing the ball on every down, and the Bengals have the easiest schedule left. The AFC North, at least by record, is as competitive as the NFC North. If you're making me guess today who will actually win the award at the end of the season, I think I'd take Burrow.
But if the question is which player could emerge from the void of hype-less-ness and become a favorite by December, Goff seems like the obvious choice. - Jared Goff, ESPN
Goff has completed 67.3% of his passes for 1,788 yards, and he owns a 112.5 passer rating.
The 6-foot-4, 217-pound quarterback added to his resume after throwing for over 300 yards in last Sunday's victory over Green Bay, adding two touchdowns and completing 68.8% of his passes, including a 40-yard strike to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the first quarter.
Goff leads the NFL, averaging 298 passing yards per game and 14.67 passing first downs per game. He ranks second in passing touchdown passes per game with 2.33. The five-time Pro Bowler is also the only quarterback in the league with double-digit touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Goff previously joined Russell Wilson this season as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw at least 12 touchdown passes without a pick in the first five games to start an NFL season.
With the Lions sitting at 4-2 and preparing for an important NFC North matchup against Minnesota on Sunday, Goff has another opportunity to elevate his candidacy. If Detroit continues to win and Goff keeps up this statistical pace, the campaign could take on a more serious tone.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN identifies Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff as sleeper MVP candidate
