For Jared Goff, one thing was clear as the Detroit Lions escaped Caesars Superdome with a 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
“87″s pretty good,” the Lions quarterback said. Number 87 is Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, who stepped up with a career day when it mattered, helping Detroit (9-3) reach its best 12-game start since 1962 when they began 10-2.
Goff went 9-of-9 for 140 yards and a touchdown while targeting LaPorta against the Saints.
“I thought that Sam LaPorta was huge today for us,”
Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
LaPorta”s efforts were needed as he ended with the fifth-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a game in the Super Bowl era behind New York Giants” Mark Bavaro (176), Atlanta Falcons” Kyle Pitts (163), Jacksonville”s Pete Mitchell (161) and New York”s Bob Tucker (150).
If we would compare him directly to what (Amon-Ra St. Brown) was doing as a rookie as far as on the field and off the field and the type of pro he is and knowing his assignments,” Goff said of LaPorta.
“Rarely has an MA (missed assignment) and rarely does that type of rookie mistake, very rarely, and it”s just such a reliable guy and a guy that I count on in those crunch times and I know he”s a clutch player.”
Detroit”s coaching staff placed an emphasis on ball security, and the Lions jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead in the first seven minutes of the game at New Orleans.
The hot start included a 13-yard touchdown grab by LaPorta from Goff at 10:24 in the opening quarter.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta not only had the best game of his NFL career, he also made his mark in the team”s history books.
In their 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints, LaPorta had a career-high 140 receiving yards, which is the new franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end.
He is just the second rookie tight end since 1970 to have 140-plus receiving yards and one or more receiving touchdowns in a game.
Lions” quarterback Jared Goff appreciated being able to rely on LaPorta when the offense needed to get going and after the game, had high praise for the rookie.
“Yeah, [I”m] as comfortable [with him] as anyone I”ve played with,”
Goff said (via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News).
I”d compare it directly to what Saint [Amon-Ra St. Brown] was doing as a rookie, as far as on the field and off the field and the type of pro he is, knowing his assignments.
LaPorta”s 13-yard touchdown reception gave the Lions a 14-0 lead, after the extra point, he helped set up a St. Brown TD by making a 29-yard catch on the play prior and had a 48-yard reception that eventually led to a field goal.
After their loss, Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu had nothing but good things to say about what he saw from LaPorta, noting that he spoke to him about his play.
I thought he probably had two of the more clutch plays in this game. Kansas City Chiefs” Travis Kelce is the only other tight end to have a 140-yard game with one touchdown this year.
He also made a wide open 48-yard catch to go over 100 yards in the third then made a key 14-yard catch on a third-and-5 before the end of the third quarter on a scoring drive that set up a Lions field goal once New Orleans was able to get within one score.
“I love playing football and when it”s not a chore, it doesn”t really feel like a job,”
LaPorta said.
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