Last Minute Lions

At this point, it’s safe to call it a trend. When the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons get together, you can count on a wild finish.

Sunday was no exception as Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford led a 75-yard touchdown in the game’s final minute, connecting with tight end T.J. Hockenson as time expired to send the Lions past the Falcons, 23-22, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“All you ask for on offense is a chance,” Stafford said. “Guys made plays. I love doing that. That’s my favorite part about playing the game. I love this game, I love competing and there is no more competitive, pressure-packed situation than whatever it was — first-and-goal from the 9-yard line with no time left. That’s what you live for as a quarterback.”

Equally amazing, the Lions never would have had the chance if not for a blunder by the Falcons on the previous possession.

With a chance to run out the clock and kick a game-winning, chip-shot field goal, Falcons running back Todd Gurley stumbled into the end zone when trying to get down short of the goal line.

“It’s tough,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “That’s a tough position as a player. When you’re lowering your pads and the momentum of trying to get yards is there, that’s a difficult spot to be in. It’s just a disappointing way for that game to end.”

The heart-stopping finish also brought back memories of the last time the two teams met in 2017, when the Lions lost after a 10-second runoff following a replay review abruptly ended the game.

Similarly in this one, a 29-yard pass to Kenny Golladay was reviewed in the closing seconds, but the Lions were able to line up and spike the ball with two seconds remaining after the catch was confirmed. 

As Al Riveron, the league’s vice president of officiating, explained after the game, the play would have only been subject to a runoff had the call on the field been changed — say from an incompletion to a catch. 

Still, in the heat of the moment, multiple players admitted they were concerned about being done in by the rule once again. 

“When I snapped the ball to spike it the first time, Kerryon (Johnson) was like, sliding behind me,” Stafford said. “I had no idea what was going on. I thought right there, ‘Oh, he apparently fell down or something. I don’t know what happened, 10-second run off, game over.’ All sorts of craziness ensued. I was just happy that they gave us, rightfully so, another chance. We spiked it and then dialed something up that worked, was able to buy us a little extra time and shoot one to Hock for a touchdown.”

The offensive fireworks were surprisingly held until the end. On paper, the ingredients were in place for a shootout. Instead, the two teams got off to a slow start, with one first down and a trio of punts on the first three series. 

The Lions managed to find their footing first as Stafford started the team’s second possession with a pair of chunk gains to Hockenson and wide receiver Marvin Jones. Handing the ball off to rookie runner D’Andre Swift on three straight snaps netted 24 more yards and put the Lions into the red zone, where a Falcons’ mistake set up the game’s first touchdown. 

On third down, Stafford had to tuck the ball and step up in his pocket to avoid pressure, but as he reset to throw, he took a big hit from cornerback A.J. Terrell. The officiating crew ruled Terrell launched himself into the quarterback, a 15-yard infraction that set the Lions up first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, where Swift punched it in on the next snap.