Jared Goff throws a perfect game and sets the NFL record in the Lions' win

DETROIT – Part of Dan Campbell felt remorse Monday night – after failing to save a piece of NFL history.

His quarterback, Jared Goff, threw a perfect game and set an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes, helping the Detroit Lions defeat the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 for the first time since 2012.

By the time Campbell realized the significance of Goff's ultra-efficient performance, it was too late – he had already rewarded wide receiver Jameson Williams and safety Kerby Joseph with game balls in the locker room.

“I just gave the game ball to someone else, so I feel terrible,” Campbell said. “I knew he played a hell of a game. I didn't know he was perfect. I didn't know he was literally 18-on-18, but I knew he played really well. You could feel that. He really found his rhythm early.”

The previous NFL record for passes without an incompletion was held by Kurt Warner when he went 10 of 10 for Arizona against Houston in 2005.

Goff couldn't remember another time in his football career when he finished a game with a perfect pass.

“Never. I don't think I've ever done that. I knew I did it last week in the first half, so I was aware of it then,” said Goff, who threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns. “And I was kind of aware of it today, about halfway through the third quarter. I thought, 'I couldn't think of one,' but then I threw the one out of bounds, which ended up being offensive pass interference.” I asked, “Does that count?” I didn't know if it counted or not. But yes, it's a good day.

It was a special day all around for Goff. In the third quarter, he caught the first touchdown of his career on a short left-handed pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown, which also had never happened since Goff started playing football at age seven.

That game helped the Lions become the first team to achieve a 100 percent completion rate in a game while multiple players threw a pass at the same time since at least 1933, according to ESPN Research.

Goff and St. Brown said the play was called “Alcatraz” by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and that the duo were happy to bring it up in prime time after practicing it several times but never finding the right play situation had to pull it off.

“It wasn't a particularly difficult route. It was like a little wheel route, late leak. I give him a 7 out of 10 for that route,” said St. Brown, who caught six passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. “It wasn’t too hard to deal with.”

Although Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow was sidelined with a partially torn pectoral muscle, Detroit's offensive line strengthened with veteran lineman Graham Glasgow moving to center and Kayode Awosika starting at left guard.

Goff benefited from the time and space in the pocket, where he went 14-for-14 for 270 yards and both touchdown passes.

His receivers also found space and he was able to complete eight long passes of 5 or more yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

One of those resulted in a 70-yard touchdown for Williams with 2:52 left in the third quarter that gave Detroit a 35-20 lead.

“I just gave the match ball to someone else, so I feel terrible. I knew he played a hell of a game. I didn't know he was perfect. I didn’t know he was literally 18-on-18.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also didn't realize Goff's perfect day until later.

“It's just crazy, I only noticed it at the end of the game. I thought, 'I haven't seen the ball hit the ground yet,'” Gibbs said. “That’s when I found out. It's cool. I’m happy for him.”

After the win, Goff found humor in Campbell giving the game balls to other players on the squad. He left Ford Field with his head held high as the Lions jumped to a 3-1 lead early in their bye week.

“That's fine. We'll see, maybe he'll make it okay, but that's okay,” Goff said. “I’m just glad we got the win.”