Niners LB Fred Warner says Lions QB Jared Goff is 'a lot better' than he was with Rams: 'He's one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now'

For just the second time in the Super Bowl era, the Detroit Lions will square off with the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs.

The last time was all the way back in the 1991 season.

Nonetheless, Lions quarterback Jared Goff is plenty familiar with the 49ers, and they with him.

Having become acquainted with the Niners during five seasons as the Los Angeles Rams' quarterback, Goff has plenty of respect for San Francisco's defenders, in particular standout linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.

"Both those guys are really dang good," Goff told reporters on Championship Wednesday. "I've been fortunate, or unfortunate enough, to be on the other side of the ball from them for quite some time. They're really good. They're both very smart, fast and play sideline to sideline. They're both involved in the run game and pass game. I have a lot of respect for both of those guys."

The respect is mutual, as Warner lauded Goff on Wednesday. The three-time All-Pro went so far as to say he believes the Detroit version of Goff has exceeded the Los Angeles version.

"[He's] a lot better," Warner said on Wednesday. "Not to say that he wasn't good when we played him back when he was with the Rams, but I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now with the way that he's playing. I think he finished, what, top three in passing yards this season. I think, just the delivery of the football, his decisiveness, obviously with the amount of playmakers that he has on that side, I think he's the one that's leading that group."

Goff's 4,575 passing yards in the regular season were tops in the NFC and second in the NFL. His 30 touchdown passes and 407 completions were also within the top four of the league. Instead of being a bridge