Detroit’s hopes of a dramatic finish were dashed when two controversial penalties in the final 22 seconds of a 29-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers erased two go-ahead touchdowns.
The Final 22 Seconds
The Lions entered the final minute trailing 29-24, with the ball in their possession and a chance to tie the game and then win on a short pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The play was called for offensive pass interference, nullifying the touchdown and keeping the Steelers in front. The decision came at a time when the crowd was already buzzing with excitement after a week of dramatic finishes in the NFL, including Seattle’s overtime win over the Rams and Chicago’s comeback against Green Bay.
The First Penalty
With 22 seconds left, Goff threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown. Rookie Isaac TeSlaa had set a pick that freed St. Brown, but the officials flagged for offensive pass interference. Goff said, “That’s a bad call.” The call meant the Lions could not score and the Steelers maintained a three-point lead.
The Second Penalty
On a fourth-and-goal from the 9-yard line, Goff launched a pass to St. Brown short of the goal line. St. Brown broke free from Jalen Ramsey, then flipped a desperation lateral back to Goff as the Steelers swarmed. The ball crossed the line, but officials had already thrown the flag before Goff crossed the goal line. After a lengthy discussion that felt like forever, they ruled St. Brown guilty of offensive pass interference, ending the play and the game.
Referee’s Explanation
Referee Carl Cheffers later explained the delay. “It is a pretty complex play,” Cheffers said. He described how the ball changed possession, the need to decide whether it was a fumble or a backward pass, and the restrictions on recovering a fumble inside two minutes. Cheffers added, “We ruled that it was a backward pass, so the recovering player could advance it for a touchdown. We then had to apply the offensive pass interference penalty, which negates the score. Because it is an offensive foul, we do not extend the half, so there is no score and no replay of the down.”
Impact on the Lions
The penalties left the Lions with zero chance to win the NFC North and pushed their playoff odds to near zero. The loss was a blow to a team that had been in contention for a postseason berth, and it ended any realistic hopes of a late-season surge.
Voices from the Field
Coach Dan Campbell admitted frustration, saying, “We weren’t able to close it out and at the end of the day, it’s on us.” Goff echoed the sentiment, noting, “We know the percentages. We know we’re not eliminated. We know some things need to go our way.” He also added, “Those guys have a hard job, and I don’t want to make any excuses.”
Key Takeaways
- Two penalties in the final 22 seconds erased the Lions’ go-ahead touchdowns.
- The penalties were called for offensive pass interference, with the second involving a backward pass and a lateral.
- The Lions’ playoff hopes are now near zero, and the team accepts responsibility for the loss.
With the game over, the Lions must regroup and address the issues that led to this costly finish, while the Steelers celebrate a hard-earned victory that capped a week of dramatic NFL finishes.
