DETROIT – Part of Dan Campbell felt remorseful Monday night – after failing to save a piece of NFL history.

His quarterback, Jared Goff, threw a perfect game and set an NFL record by completing all 18 passes to help the Detroit Lions beat the Seattle Seahawks 42-29 for the first time since 2012.

By the time Campbell realized the importance of Goff’s all-time efficient performance, it was too late: He had already rewarded wide receiver Jameson Williams and safety Kerby Joseph with game balls in the locker room.

“I just gave the game ball to someone else, so I feel terrible,” Campbell said. “I knew he had a great game. I didn’t know he was perfect. I didn’t know he was literally 18-for-18, but I knew he was playing really well. You could feel it. He really found his rhythm early .”

Kurt Warner held the previous NFL record for passes without incompletion, going 10-for-10 for Arizona against Houston in 2005.

Goff couldn’t remember another time, at any level in his football career, when he finished a game with perfect passing.

“Never. I don’t think I’ve ever done it. I knew I did it last week in the first half, so I was aware of it then,” said Goff, who threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns. “And I was kind of aware of it today, about halfway through the third quarter. I was like, ‘I couldn’t think of one,’ but then I threw the one out of bounds that ended up being an offensive pass interference and I was like, ‘ does that count?’ I didn’t know if that counted or not. But hey, it’s a good day.”

It was a special day for Goff. During the third quarter, he caught the first receiving touchdown of his career on a short pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown, something that had also never happened since Goff started playing football at age 7.

That game helped the Lions become the first team with a 100% completion rate in a game while multiple players threw a pass since at least 1933, according to ESPN Research.

Goff and St. Brown said the play was nicknamed “Alcatraz” by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and the duo was happy to perform it on the prime-time stage after practicing it several times but never having the game situation found one who could make it. out.

“It wasn’t too difficult a route. It looked like a small wheel route, leave a leak. For that route I give it a 7 out of 10,” said St. Brown, who caught six passes for 45 yards. and a touchdown. “It wasn’t that hard to deal with.”

Although Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow was ruled out due to a partially torn pectoral muscle, Detroit’s offensive line was bolstered with veteran lineman Graham Glasgow moving to center and Kayode Awosika starting at left guard.

Goff took advantage of the time and space in the pocket, going 14-for-14 for 270 yards and both of his touchdown passes.

His receivers also found space and he was able to complete eight wide-open passes with a distance of five or more yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

One resulted in a 70-yard touchdown against Williams at 2:52 of the third quarter, giving Detroit a 35-20 lead.

“I just gave the game ball to someone else, so I feel terrible. I knew he had a great game. I didn’t know he was perfect. I didn’t know he was literally 18-on-18.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also didn’t realize Goff’s perfect day until later.

“That’s just crazy, I didn’t realize it until the end of the game. I was like, ‘I haven’t seen the ball hit the ground yet,'” Gibbs said. ‘Then I found out. It’s cool. I’m happy for him.’

After the win, Goff found humor in Campbell awarding the game balls to other players on the roster. He left Ford Field with his head held high as the Lions went into their bye week at 3-1.

“That’s OK. We’ll see, maybe he’s making it up, but that’s OK,” Goff said. “I’m just happy we won.”