A crazy final play in the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Detroit Lions created complete pandemonium and a whole lot of clean-up for the NFL crew officiating it. In the end, the Steelers held on for the win thanks to offensive pass interference.
The play in question occurred on fourth-and-goal with six seconds left. Quarterback Jared Goff fired to his left for Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown then tried to muscle his way into the end zone, but he was met by two Steelers defenders. He was pushed back, but as he was being tackled to the ground, he pitched the ball back to Goff. Goff then ran in, diving across the goal line for the score.
The signal went up. Touchdown. But flags flew.
After players from both teams huddled around in confusion on the field, the officials began to chat to try to sort things out. It took nearly a minute to finally settle on a call. That call?
Touchdown. But also offensive pass interference.
“The ruling on the field is a touchdown, however, offensive pass interference No. 14 on the offense,” the lead official said. “By rule that penalty is not enforced and there is no replay. The game is over. There is no touchdown. OPI on No. 14 negates the penalty (sic), there is no replay, the game is over.”
You can view the crazy play between the Steelers and Lions unfolding below. It’s a wild one.
Even the broadcast booth was breathless on the call, trying to sort through everything that happened. Rules expert Gene Steratore provided further clarity for Lions and Steelers fans.
“In the NFL offensive fouls with time expired do not extend,” Steratore said. “I was looking to see, and they may have been discussing whether there was progress on St. Brown and whether there was time, but once Carl Cheffers said the ruling was touchdown, we knew that time had expired. You see the OPI by St. Brown there. And as I said, the game was at zero whenever Goff scored, so that is end of game, you don’t extend on offensive penalties with zeros on the clock.”
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw his hands into the air in celebration as the call was announced, heading for the mass of bodies on the field. Detroit fans stood aghast in the stands.
It was a chaotic scene. Jim Nantz did his best to sum it up on the call.
“You know, the players are still standing on the field,” Nantz said. “The Lions players are looking up at the big board, watching the replay over and over again and incredulous. Trying to figure out what just happened. How about the effort right there by the way and the presence of mind for Goff to fly into the end zone all for naught.”