Lions’ Last-Minute Comeback Thwarted by Controversial Call in Steelers Clash
The Detroit Lions found themselves on the brink of a thrilling comeback against the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to be thwarted by a controversial officiating decision that has sparked considerable debate. As the Lions marched downfield, they benefited from two crucial penalties that kept their hopes alive late in the game, including a pivotal pass interference call on Steelers safety Kyle Dugger and a tripping penalty against linebacker Alex Highsmith.
However, the true drama unfolded when the Lions faced a first-and-goal situation at the Steelers’ 1-yard line. Jared Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown, seemingly sealing the victory with what looked to be a game-winning touchdown. Yet, the jubilant moment was quickly overshadowed when the officials threw a flag for offensive pass interference on Isaac TeSlaa.
The controversial nature of the call stemmed from the play’s design, which appeared to involve TeSlaa running a pick route that allowed St. Brown to break free. In many instances, such plays are left unpenalized, particularly when the receiver is deemed to be making an effort to run a legitimate route. However, the NFL’s strict enforcement of contact rules beyond one yard from the line of scrimmage ultimately played a pivotal role in this game’s outcome.
Goff, visibly frustrated with the decision, addressed the media after the game. “Yeah, I think he’s got a great head on his shoulders. I did talk to him very briefly, and he’s fine. He is really fine. I think I mentioned the one where Saint caught it, we thought was a touchdown. In my opinion, that’s a bad call,” he stated. “Those happen. Listen, man, they’ve got a tough job, and they make calls that go our way all the time. That one in particular, he should not hang his head about. I know he’d like to have the end line back again. Listen, man, that guy made a great catch earlier in the game. He’s been doing a great job. I have zero reservations about him and know he’ll bounce back.”
Following a false start penalty that pushed the Lions back further, Goff faced a daunting fourth-and-goal situation from the Steelers’ 9-yard line. He connected with St. Brown, who was stopped just short of the goal line. In a desperate attempt to salvage the play, St. Brown lateraled the ball back to Goff, who leapt into the end zone for what would have been the game-winning score. But the offensive pass interference call on St. Brown negated the potential touchdown. According to NFL regulations, the game can conclude on offensive penalties, sealing the Lions’ fate.
Reflecting on the sequence, St. Brown remarked, “I haven’t really seen the replay, I saw it one time up there (on the Jumbotron). I think we had a PI on them, Jamo did on that drive going down. We got a call, they got a call. If we don’t get that PI on Jamo, that drive’s over, some might say that. At the end of the day, the refs have a job to do, and they’re trying their best to do it. We have a job to do as players, and go make plays, and we didn’t make enough plays today.”
As the game concluded, the ruling on the field was clear: a caught pass, a backward lateral, and a touchdown by the Lions, all nullified by the flag for offensive pass interference. With the clock reading 0:00, the controversial outcome left fans and players alike questioning the integrity of the final decision, further igniting the ongoing discourse surrounding officiating in the NFL.
