“Jared Goff, 2026 NFL MVP” has a nice ring to it. Admittedly, not as nice as “Super Bowl LXI MVP Jared Goff,” but still something that would have a lot of Lions fans feeling vindicated.
For years, Goff has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL, and while the term “game manager” has been thrown around, he’s proven that’s not the case. Just because he’s not mobile doesn’t mean that he’s relegated to being a game manager — especially not this season.
Goff has always drawn a “yeah, he’s pretty solid but…” reaction in debates about who should lead the Lions at quarterback into the future but some people are just actively avoiding reality.
The reality is this: Goff should be pacing the MVP race this season through five weeks.
Don’t believe it? The numbers speak for themselves.
Breaking down Jared Goff’s MVP numbers through 5 games
Over the first five games of the season, Goff has 1,485 yards, 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 67 percent completion rate. Those numbers should scream “MVP candidate,” but since Goff gets next to no respect — compared to what he deserves — around the league, it’s just “wow, really good start” reactions and nothing else.
Here’s why he needs to be atop the MVP conversation, maybe along with Kenneth Walker III, right now:
- 1,485 passing yards (1st in the NFL)
- 12 passing TDs (2nd)
- 0 interceptions (1st)
- 65.6 QBR (10th)
- 74 first downs (1st)
- 297 passing yards per game (3rd)
- 111.3 rating (3rd)
- 67% completion rate (9th)
- 7.8 yards per attempt (8th)
- 128 completions (5th)
Every major statistical category for a quarterback has Goff in the top 10 in the league, with most being top-five numbers. But that 12-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio is what’s standing out the most to a lot of folks. He’s not turning the ball over, and he’s just throwing touchdown passes.
Goff is the first player in NFL history to put up these numbers through five games.
Per our data and confirmed by NFL Research, Jared Goff is the first player in NFL history to have 12+ passing TDs and zero giveaways through a team's first five games of a season.
— QBgami (@QBgami) October 12, 2026
No other QB has ever done that before. pic.twitter.com/XmYHt44Uoy
And it’s not like he’s doing it on limited attempts. He has zero interceptions on the fourth-most pass attempts (191) in the NFL. The three guys ahead of him in pass attempts have a combined 13 interceptions. CJ Stroud and Goff are the only two quarterbacks in the NFL with over 180 pass attempts and zero picks.
Again, those are MVP numbers.
Still not convinced? He compares favorably to the last five MVPs through their first five games of the season.
Jared Goff is on an MVP pace. pic.twitter.com/x847VnwZw3
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) October 12, 2026
Out of the last five MVPs, Goff has the highest completion rate, second-most passing yards, second-most passing touchdowns, and he’s tied with Josh Allen for the fewest interceptions. Oh, and he has the highest rate of the group.
Obviously, the key here would be keeping this pace for another 12 games, but Goff is playing at the highest level of any quarterback in the NFL right now, and he deserves his flowers.
If he continues at this pace, Goff is going to finish with 5,049 yards and 41 touchdowns. That would give him the third-most yards and eighth-most passing touchdowns of any MVP winner since 2000.
It’s all going to come down to how many games the Lions end up winning and whether they will make the playoffs.
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