A crazy play in the second quarter of the Detroit Lions’ win against the New Orleans Saints had everyone confused. Lions quarterback Jared Goff was sacked by Saints defensive end Chase Young, jarring the ball loose. The Saints recovered it in the end zone, and it looked like a game-tying touchdown at 7 points apiece. But officials slammed on the brakes, stopping the play for a review.
What Even Happened On That Play?
Here’s the deal: on the replay, Goff’s arm was absolutely moving forward when he tried to throw it. But the football itself, man, it traveled backward! So, what gives? Is that a lateral pass, a fumble recovered for a touchdown, or an incomplete pass? For decades, we have watched these plays, always zooming in to see if a passer’s hand was coming forward, right? This one felt different. Saints fans were already celebrating a defensive score that would have leveled the game. But the refs, after huddling up, ruled it an incomplete pass.
That call gave the Lions new life. They ended up punting the ball away on that drive, sure, but it saved them from giving up a game-tying touchdown. And get this: Detroit then held the Saints scoreless for a long stretch, building up a commanding 21-point lead. That one call was huge, no doubt about it.
The Rulebook Says What?!
After the game, the NFL’s Vice President of Instant Replay, Mark Butterworth, broke it all down in the post-game pool report. He laid out the rule like this: “If the defender contacts the passer prior to the passer starting his throwing motion, then it can be ruled as a backward pass. Because Goff already started his throwing motion and then the defender contacted him, it is therefore a forward pass.” He even repeated it! It sounds wild, but he is right. The NFL rulebook, Rule 3, Section 21, Article 3, item 1, actually spells it out:
Item 1. Contact by Team B Player. If contact by an opponent materially affects a passer after the passer begins his throwing motion, it is a forward pass if he passes the ball, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else.
So, even though that ball went backward, the fact Goff’s arm was already in motion when Young hit him made it a forward pass attempt. Goff himself even joked about it after the game, saying he thought it was a good call. Then he immediately admitted he had no idea that was even a rule! It’s an odd ruling for sure, but hey, it was by the book.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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