By Moses Joshua 
As old storylines resurface, Detroit’s quarterback delivers on the field while watching history tilt toward his former team
Some NFL storylines never really end—they just evolve. For Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, the 2021 blockbuster trade permanently linked their careers, and Sunday’s matchup between the Lions and Rams proved that the comparison still cuts both ways.
Detroit’s 41–34 loss to Los Angeles was painful enough on its own. What followed made it sting even more. As Stafford carved up the Lions’ defense for 368 yards, he quietly crossed another milestone—passing Goff on the Rams’ all-time passing yards list. Moments later, the Rams made it official, posting a celebratory graphic on social media. The timing couldn’t have been more pointed.
A Milestone Reached—Against the Man He Replaced
Stafford entered the game 117 passing yards behind Goff on the Rams’ franchise leaderboard. By the final whistle, he had surged ahead, finishing with 18,422 career passing yards in a Rams uniform. It was yet another reminder of how much ground Stafford has covered in Los Angeles since arriving in the deal that sent Goff to Detroit.
The trend isn’t new. Earlier this season, Stafford passed Goff in Rams touchdown passes as well, climbing to third on the franchise list while Goff slipped to sixth. Stafford also surpassed Goff in games played as a Ram, further cementing his place in team history.
Now, Stafford sits within striking distance of Rams legends. He’s 5,336 yards behind Jim Everett for the franchise passing lead and 22 touchdowns shy of Roman Gabriel. He’s also just two regular-season wins away from passing Everett for second-most wins in team history.
For Goff, watching those numbers shift—especially on a day when his own team desperately needed a win—added a sharp edge to an already frustrating afternoon.
Goff’s Response Wasn’t the Problem
Ironically, Goff played well enough to win. Against his former team, he threw for 338 yards, three touchdowns, and didn’t turn the ball over once. Statistically, it was one of his strongest performances of the season—and it reinforced just how steady he’s been in Detroit.
Goff currently ranks near the top of the league in multiple categories, including passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, and passer rating, while throwing just five interceptions. Since rebounding from a rough first season with the Lions, he’s put together the most consistent stretch of quarterback play Detroit has seen in the Super Bowl era.
In a twist that underscores how differently their careers have unfolded post-trade, Goff has already surpassed his Rams-era totals in wins, passing yards, and touchdowns while wearing a Lions uniform. His efficiency numbers are also significantly higher than they were in Los Angeles.
And yet, the shadow of Stafford still looms large.
Chasing a Legacy That Still Belongs to Stafford
Stafford’s imprint on Lions history remains massive. He still leads the franchise in regular-season starts, wins, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Goff, despite climbing into the top two in many Lions passing categories, remains thousands of yards and more than a hundred touchdowns behind Stafford’s Detroit totals.
Closing that gap would take time—likely several more seasons at his current pace. Goff has three years left on his contract, with the possibility of an extension if he continues to perform. As general manager Brad Holmes once put it, “It’s a lot easier to get worse at QB than to get better at QB.”
That reality works in Goff’s favor. He may not fit the modern mold of a mobile quarterback, but few passers are throwing a cleaner ball right now. If he remains productive into his mid-30s, the Lions could keep riding with him—and history could eventually tilt in his direction.
The Bigger Picture
Sunday wasn’t just about a stat graphic or a leaderboard shuffle. It was about two quarterbacks on diverging timelines, still connected by one defining trade. Stafford is adding chapters to his legacy in Los Angeles. Goff is trying to write his own in Detroit—one that could ultimately surpass what came before.
For now, though, the moment belonged to Stafford. And for Goff, the reminder was unavoidable: progress doesn’t always feel like victory, especially when history updates in real time.
Whether Goff eventually overtakes those records may depend on something bigger than numbers—whether he can lead Detroit where Stafford never could. If he does, the debate over the greatest Lions quarterback may finally have a new answer.