Everyone saw it backward.
The NFL season’s first major officiating controversy revealed a rule unknown to millions of fans.
The Saints were trailing the Lions, 7-0, in the second quarter in Detroit when New Orleans defensive end Chase Young hit quarterback Jared Goff, knocking the ball loose to allow Saints safety Jonas Sanker to pick up the ball for an easy touchdown return.
Despite the ball traveling backward after leaving Goff’s hand, the defensive touchdown was soon wiped off the board, following an official review.
Mike Pereira, the NFL rules analyst for Fox Sports, explained the reasoning behind the bizarre decision, only creating more confusion with the introduction of a little-known rule that defies logic.
“[Goff] had started his throwing motion,” Pereira said. “Now, throwing motion is [considered] bringing the ball up. Forget about the hand at this point going forward. Throwing motion starts [with his] hand going up. Then he’s hit, ball comes loose. His intent was to throw it forward. Since that motion had already started, that’s going to be an incomplete pass, no matter where it lands.”
Somehow, the Saints recovered from the ruling and erased a 21-0 third-quarter deficit on the road.
New Orleans tied the score on a Juwan Johnson 9-yard touchdown catch with 1:07 remaining, then had a chance to win it on the final play of regulation, but Daniel Carlson’s 62-yard kick went wide, sending the game to overtime.
The Lions subsequently won the game 31-30, although the Saints had an opportunity to tie it late in overtime, but instead went for the win on the road with over a minute left.
The Lions forced an incomplete pass and escaped with a one-point victory at home to begin their season.
