Lions’ trick play touchdown wiped out by rare rule - here’s what Jared Goff did wrong
The Detroit Lions opened Sunday’s game against the Chiefs with a clever trick play touchdown, but it was called back due to a rare rule.
The Detroit Lions opened Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs with what looked like a creative statement drive, ending in a daring trick-play touchdown - until a flag changed everything.
NFL explains the rule behind Jared Goff’s disallowed Lions TD
Quarterback Jared Goff lined up in motion on a fourth-and-goal play before catching a short touchdown pass from running back David Montgomery, but the score was nullified for illegal motion. That cost them five yards, and they instead decided to settle for a field goal.
After the game, Goff said he was not aware of the rule that led to the penalty, and that he and his team would need to do more research to understand the NFL rules.
The rule comes from the NFL Rule Book - Rule 7, Section 4, Article 2, Item 3. It states that a quarterback in motion must come to a complete stop for at least one full second before the snap. Goff didn’t, making the play illegal. Here is the exact phrasing:
“It is legal for a T-Formation Quarterback to go in motion, whether he has placed his hands under center, on his knees, or on the body of the center. However, it is a false start if the action is quick and abrupt. If the player fails to come to a complete stop for at least one full second prior to the ball being snapped, it is illegal motion.”
Although Goff said that the rule must be new, it is not. The rule specifically applies to a quarterback who lines up as a T-formation quarterback (under center). It does not apply to quarterbacks who line up in a shotgun formation from the start, but it does apply to Goff’s specific formation on that play, which may have caused the confusion.
The play ended up being a costly execution error that turned a bold opening statement into a missed opportunity. The Lions lost the game 30-17.
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