A lot of people were hoping and expecting a big Lions comeback this year but they're not going to see it. They have been eliminated from the Playoffs. Mind you, they still have a mathematical chance but the chances of Green Bay losing both final games (including one to disheveled Baltimore) is virtually ZERO. But not only was the Lions eliminated tonight, but in one of the wildest finishes in history. A game no one will soon forget.
- The first half was uneventful with Pittsburgh leading, but it was mainly a low scoring defensive game.
- Pittsburgh came out for the 2nd half and it was lights out Steelers. The Lions only had the ball for three plays in the 3rd quarter for -3 yards offense.
- The entire game happened in the 4th quarter.
- First, Pittsburgh kicked a FG for three points. This is the best kicker in the NFL. He is nearly automatic at 60 yards. All he had to do was kick an easy 37 yard FG to put the game out of Lion's reach, but instead, he hit the upright for no points.
- Then Pittsburgh missed innumerable interception opportunities. One Pittsburgh player was hit three times in the numbers for an interception and DROPPED ALL THREE. This missed FG kept Lions in the game.
- With only a few seconds left on the clock, Detroit tries to get a TD to finish the game, but the receiver was STOPPED at the one foot line for an incompletion, but then, Goff picked up the ball and ran it in for a TD WINNING THE GAME FOR THE LIONS.
Yet the Lions still lost. It took four refs 5 minutes and with consultation with NY to figure it out. Apparently there was some new, obscure rule involved. The pass was ruled incomplete, but it is unclear who or when the play was ruled dead, but they finally decided that Goff did in fact pick up the ball and run it back for a TD. But it did not count. Why?
If I understand it right, the clock had run out by the time Goff ran it in for a TD plus Goff was guilty of OPI, not sure why, and because the clock had run out, you cannot advance the score after the clock hits zero and they could not assign the penalty for OPI because the clock had run out (there was more to it), but the conclusion was that the Lions were stopped on the one foot line and they're winning TD was nullified by a penalty plus the clock running out, so because of that, game over, Pittsburgh win by 29-24 and the Lions are eliminated. They have two hard games left to play, their division opponents have easy games they'd have to lose, and the rest of Pittsburgh's games are easy:
- The Browns, which Pittsburgh better demolish.
- The Ravens, which are battered and Jackson is in bad shape.
Detroit is effectively eliminated and Pittsburgh will likely finish 11-6, worst case: 10-7.
