NFC Notes: Jared Goff, Justin Jefferson, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Lions Detroit added another crazy trick play to their highlight reel in their Week 16 win, as they faked a fumble which led to a touchdown by TE Sam LaPorta .

Lions QB Jared Goff explained the process of perfecting the play and how OC Ben Johnson originally wanted him to actually fumble the ball.

We ran it three or four times during the week, Goff said, via Tim Twentyman of the teams website .

At first it started on Monday with Ben asking me if he thought I could actually fumble on purpose and actually pick it back up.

I said, I dont know about that?' I think the part with Gibbs where he dives really sells the play.

It worked like a charm.

Packers Packers TE Tucker Kraft has drawn comparisons to former great TE Mark Bavaro.

Just being physical, being tough, Kraft said, via ESPN .

YAC, thats really all that guy was worried about ...

So just trying to channel my inner Bavaro.

Krafts high school coach Ryan Kimbel recalled a time when Kraft got hurt but remained in the game to continue to try and help his team win.

He got hurt in a game, rolled his ankle, Gimbel recalled.

But he said, I can still play, but I cant run.

So we threw him in at guard, and we ran his freshman cousin right behind.

[Kraft] couldnt run, but he could block.

Packers RB Josh Jacobs said that Kraft is a great teammate and has just the right amount of crazy in him.

He is a little crazy, but I love it, Jacobs said.

Crazy in all the good ways.

You see the way that he plays, man.

ts fun playing with a guy like that, thatll put his body on the line for you, get hit by four people to get a first down, things like that.

Youve got to love teammates like that.

Vikings Minnesota got a huge win over the Seahawks to maintain pace in the race for the NFCs top seed thanks to a massive game from WR Justin Jefferson .

Vikings HC Kevin OConnell explained how Jefferson has been able to succeed despite defenses formulating entire game plans around slowing him down.

Hes gotten really good at understanding how hes being defended, both pre- and postsnap, OConnell said, via SI.coms Albert Breer .

Hes playing incredibly fast.

He has the understanding to run the best route he possibly can.

Sometimes, its a moving target.

Sometimes, we give him the opportunity to make a play within a concept where we dont want to lock him into one particular break because we dont know what variation of coverage hes going to see.

We just know that theres going to be a major emphasis to defend him.

Weve spent a lot of time talking about how we combat that and allow him to play fast postsnap no matter what way hes defended.

OConnell also touched on the narrative surrounding QB Sam Darnold and doesnt feel people judge him fairly because they already made up their minds about him as a player.

When people have decided that you cant play in their own minds, sometimes instead of it being a product of a guy deserving the credit for playing really good football, its always just, Whens it going to go the other way? I dont think thats fair.

I dont think thats fair to him.

He came here for the opportunity.

He came here to be a Minnesota Viking, play in our offense, with the players around him.

And I have a blast coaching him.

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