NFL Week 4 Monday: Lions QB Jared Goff makes history in Detroit victory over Seahawks, Titans get 1st win

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Week 4 of the NFL season came to a close on Monday night with another double-header, with one encounter between teams flying high and the other between two looking to kickstart their seasons in earnest.

Sunday’s action was filled with dramatic finishes, outstanding individual performances and shock results, and while Monday’s lacked the late drama, it was perpetuated with interesting notes and history being made.

Here are the main storylines from Monday’s two games:

Jared Goff has perfect, historical evening

If Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff could have drawn up how he wanted Monday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks to go, how it actually played out was probably too good to imagine.

The 29-year-old didn’t throw a single incompletion in the 42-29 win, going 18-for-18 for 292 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard TD toss to Jameson Williams.

In doing so, Goff became the first QB in NFL history to attempt more than 10 passes in a game without throwing an incompletion, according to the NFL.

When asked about his perfect accuracy on the evening by ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Goff didn’t even realize he hadn’t missed a pass. And after having some time to think about it, he was understated in his reaction.

“Awesome. Yeah, really cool,” Goff said of making history. “It’s a cool thing to have, I guess, but I’m happy we got the win.”

Goff completed all 18 of his passes against the Seahawks. Nic Antaya/Getty Images

On top of that, the evening got even better for Goff when he caught his first ever touchdown pass on a trick play as Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown tossed him the ball midway through the third quarter.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he felt “awful” after already giving the game ball to Williams before being told of Goff’s historic evening.

“I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not realize he was perfect. I did not know he was literally 18-for-18,” Campbell told reporters. “But I knew he played really well; you could feel it.

“He really found his rhythm early, and I thought he was seeing the field, played with rhythm, he had to move a little bit in the pocket. … Just a number of huge throws. Played with poise.”

The Lions needed a full team performance to put away a previously-unbeaten Seahawks squad that arrived at Ford Field with plenty of confidence.

Seattle quarterback Geno Smith tried valiantly to keep up the pace with the home team, cutting the lead to seven with a touchdown on the first drive of the second half.

But while the teams exchanged scores, Detroit’s early advantage meant it held on for the win, improving to 3-1 while the Seahawks slipped to the same record.

Smith threw 38-for-56 for 395 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had three rushing TDs.

Aidan Hutchinson continued his excellent season on the Detroit defense with a career-high 10 pressures, the most pressures by any player in a game this season, per the NFL.

After the loss, Seattle’s first-year head coach Mike Macdonald touched on his team having plenty of room to grow.

“I wouldn’t say (facing Detroit on the road is) a litmus test, it just shows us we’re not the team that we need to be at this point,” Macdonald told reporters. “I mean, that’s what it is. Just wasn’t good enough.

“They did what they did to win the game. They did a great job, they had a great plan, and we came up short. So it’s how do we move forward right now as a football team and take the next step because we’ve got a short week coming up and there’s urgency – I mean, there’s always an urgency, but we’ve got to go to work here over the next few days and make this right.”

Titans battle injuries to notch first win of season

It wasn’t a classic, but Tennessee is finally off the mark this season.

The Titans picked up their first win of the season thanks to a 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, a game in which Tennessee lost starting quarterback Will Levis to injury in the first quarter.

Levis suffered a shoulder injury after battling for a first down and was quickly ruled out of the rest of Monday’s game. Head coach Bill Callahan said Levis will undergo an MRI for what is thought to be an acromioclavicular (AC) joint issue.

Even during his brief stint on the field, the second-year passer threw an interception to continue his streak of turning the ball over in every game so far this season.

But despite backup QB Mason Rudolph stewarding the team to the win, Callahan said afterwards that Levis is the team’s starting quarterback when he’s healthy.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passes in the first half of the team's 42-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, September 29. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Denver Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith celebrates as a field goal attempt by New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein misses in the fourth quarter in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 29. The Broncos won 10-9. Seth Wenig/AP Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders fights off the tackle attempt by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29. The Bengals beat the Panthers 34-24. Grant Halverson/Getty Images Houston Texans safety Eric Murray celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during the Texans' 24-20 victory in Houston on September 29. Eric Gay/AP San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle catches a touchdown pass in the end zone in Santa Clara, California, on September 29. The 49ers beat the New England Patriots 30-13. Jed Jacobsohn/AP New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton bobbles the ball as he runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks during the Giants' 20-15 loss to the Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 26. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills celebrates an interception during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park, New York, on Monday, September 23. This was his first career interception and latest milestone since he suffered from a cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers' 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on September 22. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22. John Amis/AP Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22. Stacy Bengs/AP Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team's 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22. Cooper Neill/Getty Images New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team's 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16. Matt Slocum/AP Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs' 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17. Abbie Parr/AP New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints' 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8. Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys' 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension , making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10. Danny Karnik/AP Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears. David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10. Jason Mowry/Getty Images Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings' 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Rebecca Blackwell/AP Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28. Matt Slocum/AP Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5. Reed Hoffmann/AP Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20. Ed Zurga/AP Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5. Charlie Riedel/AP The best photos from the 2024 NFL season Prev Next

“It was not a decision based on anything other than his health and protecting him, particularly with the bye week,” Callahan said. “The shoulder didn’t feel great. I didn’t want to put him back out there, and I knew I was gonna run the ball quite a bit, so that was really what factored in. But he’s our starter when he’s healthy and we’re ready to roll with him.”

Levis was replaced by Rudolph and, although he only threw 9-for-17 for 85 yards, the veteran backup was able to lead seven scoring drives during his time on the field.

Titans kicker Nick Folk was perfect on the evening, hitting all five of his field goals as well as both his extra points.

Tennessee’s two touchdowns came via running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as the duo racked up 127 yards on the ground.

For the Dolphins, it was another underwhelming performance with starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still absent with a concussion.

Miami started Tyler Huntley in place of Tagovailoa, but he struggled for consistency, throwing 14-for-22 for 96 yards. He did run for the team’s only score of the night midway through the fourth quarter.

The Dolphins made some history of their own on Monday, becoming the first team since the 2017 Cleveland Browns to not hold a lead through the first four games of the season. Miami’s only win – a 20-17 Week 1 victory against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars – came when Jason Sanders kicked the game-winning field goal as time ran out.

Full Week 4 Monday scores

Away @ home (winners in bold)

Tennessee Titans 31-12 Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks 29-42 Detroit Lions

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