"This is unacceptable for Jared Goff": Ryan Clark doesn't hold back as Lions' playoff chances end after star QB's poor outing

ESPN analyst Ryan Clark went in on Jared Goff after the veteran quarterback had an underwhelming performance in the 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.

Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions went from a 15-2 finish in 2024 to an 8-8 record with one game remaining in 2025. They are out of playoff contention, and the reactions didn't take long to arrive.

The Lions entered the season with high expectations, as many thought they were bound to challenge the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC throne. Fast forward, and they won't even make it to the playoffs, and the franchise will have a busy offseason to build a competitive team again.

Goff took a lot of heat after Christmas Day's game, with Ryan Clark criticizing him in Friday's episode of "First Take."

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“Jared Goff can build you up to make you believe you have a chance … to turn the football over five times, to look hapless at many points of this game, and also to feel like you don’t have an answer to what Brian Flores and their defense is presenting to you, it’s unacceptable for Goff,” Clark said. “This is an organization, a head coach, and a general manager that has put the ultimate trust in Goff to be able to elevate this team and yesterday, he let them down.”

Goff went 18 of 29 for 197 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. The Vikings won the game with just 3 net passing yards, with Max Brosmer going 9 of 16 with 51 yards. The Lions are one of the biggest disappointments of the season, but Goff wasn't the only one criticized over the team's performance.

Ryan Clark calls out Dan Campbell over Lions' underwhelming season

Ryan Clark had things to say about Lions head coach Dan Campbell, too. The retired safety noted that Campbell failed to prepare and adjust for the season.

“He deserves a ton of the blame, because he gets a ton of the praise when his team plays extremely well,” Clark said. “He is in charge of making sure the next offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator are prepared to take over those jobs. "He is also in charge of delegation and decision-making in football games, and if you watch this team playing this season, they weren’t as efficient or proficient on fourth down, but he continued to utilize those downs instead of getting points."

The Lions will close out the season against the Chicago Bears, hoping to end it on a positive note.

Edited by Orlando Silva