Controversial call stirs debate in Detroit Lions nail-biting victory over Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Detroit Lions took their high-powered offense and stout defense on the road to Arizona, where they defeated the Cardinals 20-13 to advance to 2-1 on the season.

Sunday’s (Sept. 22) game was a nailbiter as quarterback Jared Goff had to lead a late-game drive to seal the victory, hitting wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for 18 yards on third down and 12 to keep the chains moving.

Goff scrambled for eight yards on second down and seven to seal the victory as the Cardinals had no timeouts remaining.

“That’s what makes you feel pretty good, as I feel like we can play different types of games,” said head coach Dan Campbell. “I mean, we can do whatever we need to on special teams, defense, and offense, and we just got to find a way to win every week, and they can be different every time.”

Goff finished the day completing 18-23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

St. Brown, who led all receivers in the game, caught seven passes for 75 yards and one touchdown

Running back David Montgomery toted the rock 23 times for 105 yards and one touchdown, along with backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs, who carried the ball 16 times for 83 yards.

But the key play of the day occurred with the clock winding down to the two-minute warning in the first half.

It was third down and 12 again, in a 13-7 game with 2:01 remaining on a running clock when Goff, instead of just letting the clock get to 2:00, snapped the ball, got pressure in his face, and bounced the ball off of a lineman’s helmet.

In typical Lions fashion, the ball ricocheted into the arms of linebacker Mack Wilson, Sr., who returned the ball for a pick-six to tie the game at 13.

However, to the crowd’s dismay and the viewing audience’s disbelief, the referees blew their whistles for the two-minute warning.

Goff snapped the ball ahead of the whistle, and for the first time in franchise history, they received some favor from the referees. The play was unchallengeable, so it stood as a nonplay.

At the time, Goff was 10-10 for 107 yards and one touchdown, but on the next play, Gibbs extended the drive with a half-back draw.

Two plays later, Goff hit St. Brown, who completed a hook-and-ladder to Gibbs for a touchdown, capping off a 14-point swing that set the tone for the rest of the game.

“You know we had this play rigged up,” said St. Brown. “We’ve been practicing it for a minute. The dude that was that was playing us said, ‘Oh, EXPLETIVE.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, he’s about to score.’ I’m like, what’s the celebration going to be?”

That 14-point swing changed the game’s trajectory as the Lions’ defense held Kyler Murray and his offense scoreless in the third quarter and a field goal in the fourth.

Since 2017, the Lions have dominated the Cardinals, improving to 5-0-1, but that 14-point swing took all the momentum out of them and the fans in attendance.

The Lions will look to keep their winning ways rolling when they host the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football on Sept. 30.