Detroit Lions’ Next Opponent Has a History With Jared Goff
The Detroit Lions are heading into their fifth game of the season on Sunday, October 5, and it’s a high-stakes showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. The Lions are 3-1 for the season, and the Bengals are 2-2, but one thing that’s certainly an advantage for the Lions is that the Bengals are without their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been sidelined through at least early December. While that will help, it’s not a guarantee, so the Lions will have to be on point to get that 4-1 record after this game.
They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, and it appears that Lions quarterback Jared Goff actually has a long history with the coach of the Bengals. So, their coach might have a leg up on what Goff’s style is like and how to contain him, but it’s nothing to lose sleep over.
Ahead of the Sunday game, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talked about his relationship with Goff over the years. As it turns out, he knows Goff very well.
Bengals Head Coach Talks Lions Quarterback Jared Goff
Taylor has been talking about the Lions leading up to the teams’ game against each other, and he’s opening up about his time with Goff. Taylor coached Jared Goff in 2018 ,when he was the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams and Goff was with the team.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the job Dan (Campbell) and his staff do on offense,” Taylor said on Wednesday, October 1. “I coached Jared (Goff) for two years. I’ve got a ton of respect for him.
He added, “It’s a tough task and there’s going to be some above the neck stuff early in the week our guys have to own. So, when we get the physical reps (Thursday) and Friday, we make the most of them because it’ll be less this week than normal. I trust our guys will be able to do that.”
The Bengals‘ backup quarterback Jake Browning has been completing 64 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and five interceptions since Burrow has been out. Of Browning, Taylor said, “I feel extremely confident in Jake Browning” going into the Lions game.
Detroit Lions Making Waves in the NFL
The NFL has released their Week 5 power rankings, out on Tuesday, September 30, and in them, Eric Edholm has the Lions at No. 3.
“Detroit was not prolific offensively against Cleveland, but no one has been this season,” Edholm states in the piece. Still, this is the second time in four games where the Lions have been kept somewhat grounded on offense, even if they’ve taken good care of the football. Committing five offensive penalties was out of character, and Detroit’s still trying to hone the connection between Jared Goff and Jameson Williams.
He adds, “The Lions have enough options and weapons to win a contest such as Sunday’s, and the defense and special teams did enough to step up in a game that was 20-10 entering the fourth quarter. Some tough opponents await prior to the Week 8 bye, and though there’s no panic, Dan Campbell’s group still has a few screws to tighten up.”
We’re confident that Campbell will get those screws tightened up in time for Sunday. Go Detroit.
Former Eagles Starting QB Arrested After Stabbing in Indianapolis
Former Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback and first round pick Mark Sanchez was stabbed and hospitalized in Indianapolis early Saturday morning, according to multiple reports, and was later arrested by the Indianapolis police.
“Indianapolis police now say they have arrested FOX analyst Mark Sanchez while he was at the hospital for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on October 4.
TMZ and Schefter were both first to report the news of the stabbing.
Sanchez, 38 years old, was in Indianapolis to be the color commentator for the Fox Sports broadcast team for a Week 5 game between the Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders.
“Former NFL QB and FOX analyst Mark Sanchez was stabbed in Indianapolis and is in the hospital in stable condition, FOX announced,” Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Sanchez was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game.”
Sanchez was drafted by the New York Jets with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and played there for 5 seasons before spending 2 years with the Eagles, going 4-6 in 10 starts in 2014 and 2015.
According to a statement from the Indianapolis Metro Police Department, the incident was called an “isolated incident between the two men and not a random act of violence.”
Statement from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on the situation that resulted in Mark Sanchez being stabbed and hospitalized: pic.twitter.com/uxIQ3AhIDY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 4, 2025
From TMZ: “Former NFL QB and FOX analyst Mark Sanchez was stabbed in Indianapolis and is in the hospital in stable condition, FOX announced. Sanchez was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game.”
“Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition,” Fox Sports said in a prepared statement. “We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.”
Reactions to Sanchez’s Stabbing on Social Media
Sanchez also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears but was perhaps best known for his time at USC, where he was an All-Pac-10 selection in 2008.
“Damn man … Prayers up for my guy and USC brother Mark Sanchez,” former USC wide receiver and 1996 No. 1 overall pick Keyshawn Johnson wrote on his official X account. “This is ridiculous!”
“Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family,
the New York Jets wrote on their official X account. “Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6.”
“Asking all of you for your prayers,” ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi wrote on X. “Mark Sanchez is one of the kindest people you will meet. He’s family to many who know him.”
“Mark Sanchez is a good person, somebody you want as a teammate in life or on the field,” Jets media relations staffer Eric Allen wrote on his official X account. “He is also a husband and a proud father. This is shocking and sad news, but stable is a good sign. (Prayers) for our friend and love to his family. Mark’s positivity is his enduring trademark.”
“Trying not to freak out, but praying fervently for Mark’s healing,” former NFL player and sports commentator Emmanuel Acho wrote on his official X account. “Praying for his wife Perry’s peace in the midst of this chaos, and praying for his whole family. Mark is one of the greatest men you’ll ever know. Love you, Mark Sanchez.”
Sanchez Married Actress in 2023
Sanchez has been married to actress Perry Matfield since 2023.
Matfield is best known for her starring role in the CW series “In the Dark” from 2019 to 2022 and currently stars in the Hulu series “Chad Powers” alongside Glen Powell.
