ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff praised the Cleveland Browns’ defense as one of the best in the league.
“They’re sound. They play hard. They rush hard,” said Goff.
Recommended Videos
Goff highlighted linebacker Myles Garrett as a key part of their defense and noted their strength in the back end.
Monday Night Football
Reflecting on the Lions’ Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Goff appreciated the offensive line’s performance.
“They played really well, and that’s two weeks in a row now they’ve done that,” Goff said.
He called the upcoming game another tough test for the line.
Goff spoke about the progress of young offensive lineman Tate Ratledge, saying, “It’s just reps, man. The more reps he gets, the better he’s going to be. I think he’s played great.”
Mason Graham
Regarding rookie defensive lineman Mason Graham, Goff said, “He’s a good player, gets off the ball fast, athletic, and a tough guy to block.”
Graham is a former Michigan Wolverines standout who helped the men in maize capture the 2023 College Football Playoff championship.
Graham has earned significant accolades during his college career.
He is a two-time All-American, receiving unanimous first-team honors in 2024 and second-team honors in 2023.
Graham has been selected twice for the All-Big Ten team: first team by the coaches in 2023-24, first team by the media in 2024, and third team by the media in 2023.
He was named Defensive MVP of the 2023 Rose Bowl Game.
In 2024, Graham was a finalist for the Outland Trophy and the Nagurski Trophy, and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2023.
Graham was named Michigan’s Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2022 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
He co-received the Woodley-Graham Award in 2023 and the Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player Award in 2024.
Graham is a three-time letter winner from 2022 to 2024 and has appeared in 39 games with 27 starts along the defensive line.
Browns defense
Goff discussed the challenge of facing a strong defensive front with talented players inside and on the edge, like Garrett and Graham.
“You can’t slide to both of them. It leaves somebody one-on-one, and it’s our guys’ job to win those matchups,” Goff said.
Goff also praised his former Wolverines standout player in center Graham Glasgow for his leadership.
“It helps all of us when he’s on it, especially up front. He’s doing what he needs to do and playing well,” Goff said.
Communication
On communication improvements after week one, Goff said, “We didn’t have any pre-snap penalties. We communicated well and got in and out of plays pretty good.”
When asked about the offensive line’s chemistry, Goff said, “The O-line’s starting to gel together now. They feel good next to each other.”
Goff reflected on the team’s recent offensive success. “It’s been pretty good. Another tall test this week, and we got to try to do it again.”
He explained his role in play execution as a quarterback.
“I have to get to the right run call, hold backside ends with fakes, hand off where it needs to be, and get out of the way.”
Play sequencing
Goff emphasized the importance of play sequencing to keep defenses off balance.
“Good offenses set things up throughout a game. We change tempos, use motions and shifts, and keep defenses on their heels,” Goff said.
Finally, Goff praised the Lions’ running backs tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
“They feed off each other. They’re both hardworking and as good as it gets,” Goff said.
History
The upcoming challenge against Cleveland’s vaunted defense, backed by Garrett, will be a tall task for the Lions’ offense.
Detroit leads the all-time series against the Browns, but the history between these two franchises includes four championship games, with the Lions’ last championship win coming in 1957.
The teams’ first significant matchups occurred in the 1950s, with both franchises frequently battling for league supremacy.
Detroit has won 19 of the 24 total games played between the two teams, although the Browns have won the most recent game, 13-10, inside Huntington Bank Field.
Here’s a fun fact: the Ravens were originally the Browns before they relocated from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1995, leading to a controversial decision where the city was able to retain the team name, while Charm City received the expansion team’s name.
With revenge on their minds, the Lions will host the Browns on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, inside Ford Field at 1 p.m.