One play in particular did highlight the vast differences between the two former No. 1 overall picks.
During an 11-on-11 period, Goff rolled to his left off of a play fake, forcing him to make a decision between two wideouts.
Both decisions required Goff to throw across his body. Wideouts Kalif Raymond and Breshad Perriman both came open, but
Perriman had beaten his defender and was running deep up the sideline.
Raymond was approximately 10 yards up field and heading towards the sideline.
Goff made the decision to throw it to Raymond, but ended up throwing it behind him for an incompletion.
According to
The Athletic, "Stafford throws the deep ball there probably 99 times out of 100. Goff targeted Raymond instead, then threw it behind him a bit so it fell incomplete.
There’s just a difference in mentality, and that’s assuming Goff even has the arm strength to hit a receiver in stride 50-plus yards deep while going against the grain."
No doubt, Stafford would have launched it. It was his bread and butter, but ultimately, also his biggest downfall,
due to turnovers at inopportune times.
Even though Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Goff have stated that he enjoys throwing it downfield, the
26-year-old quarterback will likely play it safe, especially when the safer option underneath is available.