The Detroit Lions improved to 3-1 on the season with their 34-20 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday evening, their second straight victory at Lambeau Field.
Detroit led for most of the game behind running back David Montgomery’s three-touchdown night, and their defense had Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love uncomfortable all evening.
Each team benefitted from one big blunder by the referees in the second half, however.
In the final seconds of the third quarter, Love snapped the ball after the game clock appeared to read 0:00. The referees didn’t stop the play and the quarterback found wide receiver Jayden Reed for a 44-yard completion, his longest of the evening.
Thursday Night Football rules analyst Terry McAulay broke down how the crew blew the call, saying, “The clock clearly hits zero before the ball is snapped… once the game clock hits zero, it’s over, it should be shut down on the field by the officials.”
"The clock clearly hits zero before the ball is snapped… once the game clock hits zero, it's over, it should be shut down on the field by the officials."- #TNF rules analyst Terry McAulay on the Packers' 44-yard play to end the 3rd quarter. 🏈 🦓 pic.twitter.com/XikapJ9YEP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 29, 2023
Green Bay would go on to score a touchdown on the next play to trim Detroit’s lead to 27-17.
On the Lions’ next drive, they drove down the field and decided to settle for a field goal with roughly eight minutes left. The field goal was good, but after the commercial break, the referee announced an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Quay Walker of the Packers, for jumping over the line to try to block the field goal.
The Lions kicked a field goal, but after the commercial break, an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty against the Packers' Quay Walker was announced, giving Detroit 1st-and-goal.
Later, the Lions would get a TD on 4th-and-goal, making it 34-17 Detroit instead of 30-17. #TNF pic.twitter.com/kIBSPaQKVH
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 29, 2023
While the call was correct, how long it took to be made was confusing. Not only was there an entire commercial break but both teams had their kickoff units on the field.
Detroit got an automatic first down and would go on to score a touchdown to virtually seal the victory.
[Photo Credit: Amazon Prime]
