NFL Lions’ Jared Goff: Tight end Jahmyr Gibbs, a running back, and Sam LaPorta are “two of the best rookies I’ve ever been around.”…..

Week 15 saw the Lions offense put on a 42-point show, allaying any concerns in Detroit.

In the team’s victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night, Jared Goff and company dominated, amassing 448 total yards of offense through a well-balanced mix of pass and run plays that led to touchdown drives in five of the final six possessions, matching the Lions’ season-high point total of 2023.

It was the kind of performance that was needed from a team that struggled to a 2-2 record over the previous month and was prone to turnover. Although Goff responded with a career-high five touchdown passes, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs’s performances were what really stood out.

“They’re two of the best rookies I’ve ever been around,” Goff said to the media following the exhibition. “What they handle mentally and what they do every Sunday for us; the way they practice, they way they’re pros, everything — they’re as good as it gets.”

Gibbs found paydirt both through the air and on the ground, while LaPorta’s five receptions for 56 yards, three of which resulted in touchdown celebrations. According to NFL Research, LaPorta and Gibbs’ five total touchdowns are the most by rookies in a game since Jerry Butler, the wide receiver for the Bills, and defensive tackle Fred Smerlas did so in 1979.

The rookie pair, LaPorta as a reliable red-zone threat and Gibbs developing into a playmaker out of the backfield for change of pace, are a vital part of Detroit’s offensive package.

In addition to setting the tone for the Lions, Gibbs and LaPorta are also influencing the opinions of people who previously questioned Detroit’s first- and second-round draft selections in April.

Head coach Dan Campbell said, “I’m just going to bring it back to (general manager) Brad Holmes,” following the victory. “Once again, he did an amazing job. He received a lot of flak for those two selections, but it appears that they are good choices. Thus, I’m happy we have them.”

After rushing the ball for 100 yards on 11 carries for an effective 9.1 yards per carry, Gibbs had a career night. His ability to turn the corner explosively and use blocks decisively seems to get better every week. The Lions’ own David Montgomery is paired.

After his three-TD performance, LaPorta is moving into elite territory, and the Iowa product is carrying on the legacy of successful Hawkeye TEs in the NFL. He joined Hall of Famers Mike Ditka (1961) and John Mackey (1963) as the third rookie tight end with 700+ receiving yards and seven+ receiving touchdowns in his debut season on Saturday, according to NFL Research.

With their victory on Saturday, Detroit solidified their hold on the NFC North, and going into Sunday, they have a number of options that could help them secure a postseason spot for the first time since 2016. For the Lions, however, winning the division will be crucial because they haven’t done so since 1993, the last time the Motor City saw a playoff victory.

LaPorta believes that the Lions’ continuous success goes far beyond them winning big with their first two draft selections in April.

After the game, LaPorta stated on NFL Network, “It starts with our head coach.” “Dan Campbell established a norm here, saying that the things that have transpired over the past 30 years will no longer be tolerated. It has to do with attitude. It’s an internal issue. begins with him.”