By Moses Joshua 
The Lions quarterback claps back at ESPN’s Louis Riddick after defending teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown amid heated on-field and media drama.
Goff Defends His Teammate After Fiery Commanders Clash
The Detroit Lions’ 44–22 dismantling of the Washington Commanders in Week 10 was supposed to be a celebration of dominance — not drama. Yet, a midgame altercation involving Amon-Ra St. Brown and Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne reignited controversy across the NFL.
During the second quarter, tensions boiled over when Payne threw a punch at St. Brown after a brief scuffle, earning himself an ejection. St. Brown, who initiated contact earlier in the play, escaped with no penalty beyond the flag — a decision that drew frustration from Washington’s defense.
Commanders lineman Javon Kinlaw voiced that frustration after the game.
“I just felt like in the moment we were being cheated, to be honest,” Kinlaw said. “Daron [Payne] only retaliated because the refs literally saw the first punch. … I don’t blame him for the way he reacted. It’s a physical game. [Expletive] happens.”
Kinlaw’s postgame comments weren’t the only sparks to fly — he also got into it with Lions quarterback Jared Goff during the game, a confrontation that added even more fuel to the fire.
Jared Goff Fires Back — and Takes a Shot at Louis Riddick
Asked about the tense exchange during an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket, Goff offered his own take — one that mixed humor with pointed sarcasm.
“Yeah, he was… I don’t know. I don’t know what he was really saying,” Goff said. “He jumped offside, I told him he jumped offside. He said, ‘I know.’ I don’t know why he was so excited about jumping offside, but he was.”
Then, the Lions quarterback took aim at ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, referencing Riddick’s prior criticism of Detroit safety Brian Branch earlier in the season.
“I think that was before or after they punched St. Brown in the face,” Goff added. “So I can’t wait to see Louis Riddick break that one down for us this week on Turning Point.”
Goff’s remark was a clear jab at Riddick, who previously narrated an NFL Turning Point segment that portrayed Branch negatively after a Week 6 incident with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
In that segment, Riddick said, “It was a long game for Lions safety Brian Branch, number 32. He got burned by [Travis] Kelce’s basketball move. He got showed up by [Patrick] Mahomes. He got juked by Xavier Worthy and took a shot from JuJu Smith-Schuster. The turning point led to Branch’s boiling point.”
The Lions haven’t forgotten that coverage — and Goff’s public callout made that clear.
Detroit’s Focus Remains Forward
Despite the brewing controversy, Detroit’s focus remains squarely on maintaining control of the NFC North. With a 6–3 record and Dan Campbell’s squad firing on all cylinders, the Lions have quickly reestablished themselves as a legitimate contender.
Still, the exchange between Goff, Kinlaw, and the lingering media tension with Riddick highlights the growing intensity surrounding the Lions’ resurgence.
As the team prepares for a crucial Week 11 Sunday Night Football showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, one thing is certain — Detroit isn’t shying away from confrontation, on or off the field.