Jared Goff wasn’t happy with the Panthers’ ‘cemented’ grass pitch

Lions quarterback Jared Goff said on-field conditions at Bank of America Stadium weren’t up to snuff on Saturday, calling them “sub-standard for the NFL,” especially heading into the game.

“I don’t know what the deal is here, but they have to find a way to make the turf not look like cement,” Goff said after Detroit’s 37-23 loss to the Panthers.

Carolina players seem to agree.

“We’re probably going to have to all of us stop practicing here until we get some grass,” linebacker Shaq Thompson told the AP last month. “I mean they make enough money with us to maintain the grass. I hate to say this but with our last owner [Jerry Richardson] we had grass. … Listen to your players. We want grass.

It’s possible that the weather had something to do with the particularly bad conditions on Saturday. The temperature during the game was 20 degrees and it was windy in Charlotte, the coldest game in Bank America Stadium history.

Goff said the pitch was improving as the game progressed, but he was happy no one was seriously injured.

“Pre-game, it wasn’t a requirement to play,” Goff said.

Goff threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns on the day, though the Lions (7-8) failed to come back after losing 24-7 at halftime.

The Panthers (6-9) are half a game behind the Buccaneers for the NFC South lead.