Facing his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in the Wild Card Round, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff openly admitted that the chip on his shoulder from being traded in January 2021 still motivates him.“Yeah, of course,” Goff told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard when asked about the chip on his shoulder. “I think it’ll never leave me, and I think that’s a good thing.”

Goff had a noteworthy stint with the Rams, even leading them to a Super Bowl appearance. However, after a playoff run where they were eliminated by the Green Bay Packers, the Rams opted to trade Goff and multiple draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. The move was seen as a bold upgrade at quarterback, but it also involved shedding Goff’s contract.

As the narrative unfolds, both sides seem content with the trade’s outcomes. The Rams secured a Super Bowl title in Stafford’s first season, while Goff revitalized his career under Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Lions GM Brad Holmes, a former Rams employee, utilized the draft picks to acquire six players, including notable talents like running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, and receiver Jameson Williams.

This Wild Card Round isn’t the first meeting between the Rams and Lions since the pivotal trade. In October 2021, Stafford and the Rams secured a 28-19 victory at SoFi Stadium.

Now, nearly three years post-trade, the teams face off again, with Stafford returning to a familiar setting. Goff, aiming to make a mark, emphasizes the significance of winning a playoff game for Detroit, a city deprived of such victories for a long time. His desire to contribute to a home playoff win holds more weight than personal vendettas. Winning against his former coach, Sean McVay, whom Goff credits for his development to the pro level, would be the ultimate satisfaction.“Obviously, we had our differences there at the end, but he’s a great coach,” Goff remarked about McVay. “He’s a guy that taught me a lot. … I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city that hasn’t had one in so long. We’ve got a home playoff game for the first time in so long, and that’s so much more important than anything personally for me. I want to be a part of this win and do my job the best of my ability.”