Goff, rookie Abney lead Lions to 45-21 victory over Cardinals; Detroit heads into bye at 3-2
GLENDALE, Ariz. The Detroit Lions defeated the Arizona Cardinals 45-21 on Sunday, improving to 3-2 as they head into a Week 6 bye, Tim Twentyman of the Lions wrote. Quarterback Jared Goff paced the offense, completing 19 of 30 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns without an interception for a 125.8 passer rating. The performance continued Detroit’s strong early-season play.
Goff converted four critical fourth downs, completing three throws on fourth down and rushing one yard for a touchdown on a fourth-down play, Tim Twentyman wrote. The victory extended Goff’s streak to 28 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass, the longest active streak in the NFL and the longest in franchise history. He has gone five straight games to begin the year without throwing an interception and, through five games, has thrown at least 12 touchdown passes and zero interceptions, joining Russell Wilson’s 2019 start as the only such seasons in NFL history, Tim Twentyman wrote.
Head coach Dan Campbell praised Goff’s play and progression this season, saying the veteran has gotten better every year and calling him “the real deal,” Tim Twentyman wrote. Goff said he has been conscious of protecting the football, noting a sack-fumble the team recovered and saying he has worked the last handful of years to limit turnovers. He added that some plays have bounced Detroit’s way but that he is proud of his consistency and wants to keep it going.
The Lions’ defense also made key contributions, with rookie fifth-round pick Keith Abney II recording his first career interception in his first NFL start, Tim Twentyman wrote. Abney started at safety and finished with six tackles (five solo), one interception and one pass defended as Detroit’s defense dominated the first half. At 21 years and 273 days old, he became the second-youngest Lions player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to record an interception.
Campbell opened his postgame remarks by presenting a game ball to longtime Lions play-by-play announcer Dan Miller, who lost his wife, Cindy, to cancer this week, Tim Twentyman wrote. “This ball goes to Dan Miller and his family,” Campbell said. He called Miller “salt of the earth” and dedicated the game ball to Miller and his family.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Goff’s efficiency, fourth-down conversions and turnover-free start have been central to Detroit’s offense through five games. The emergence of Keith Abney II as a versatile defensive contributor provides a timely boost after his interception in the first start. Entering the bye at 3-2, the Lions have tangible building blocks on both sides of the ball.