The Patriots are favored by nearly two touchdowns in their upcoming game against the Rams, but the team’s coaching staff isn’t taking its opponent lightly.
New England’s only two losses this season have come in Foxboro, so it’s understandable that the team is being cautious heading into Sunday’s game. The Rams, though, got blown out in New Orleans last week, 49-21, but not because of quarterback Jared Goff. The rookie played well in his first career start, as he completed 20 of 32 passes for 214 yards. Most importantly, he threw three touchdown passes, and only one interception.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick presumably watched the game tape, judging by what he said to reporters on Wednesday. Belichick praised the rookie quarterback for his performance against the Saints.
“You just have to respect the talent and the skill that Goff has,” Belichick said, via Chris Wesseling of NFL Media. “You can certainly see that, particularly in this game against New Orleans. He’s a very, very talented player with a great arm and the ability to make a lot of throws.”
Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia also lauded Goff in delivering a scouting report of his own.
“Big guy, tall quarterback, he’s long. He has an extremely strong arm and a very accurate arm in a lot of the different throws that they ask him to make,” Patricia explained. “He’s a very good quarterback from the standpoint of arm strength, the ability to get the ball downfield.”
It’s unlikely that Goff will be able to outperform Tom Brady on Sunday, but the Patriots coaching staff clearly has a great deal of respect for the young quarterback’s skill set.
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