Jameson Williams provided one of the few sparks for the Detroit Lions on a night when their offense struggled to find any traction.
Midway through the second quarter, Williams caught a crossing route and exploded downfield for a 40-yard touchdown, giving Detroit its first points of the game. It appeared as though the Lions were finally settling into a rhythm, capping a quick 74-yard, three-play drive that suddenly put momentum on their side.
The touchdown came with 5:12 remaining in the first half, after Detroit’s defense had repeatedly bent without breaking, forcing the Eagles to kick short field goals despite working with favorable field position early on.
Williams’ score evened the matchup at 6–6, leaving only the routine extra point to give the Lions the lead. But moments after crossing the goal line, the receiver hopped onto the goal post and sat astride it with the ball still in his hands—an immediate 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty under NFL rules.
That flag transformed what should have been a normal PAT into a 48-yard attempt for kicker Jake Bates in windy, cold conditions. Bates pushed it wide right, keeping the score tied and wiping away Detroit’s chance to take the lead.
The Lions wouldn’t find the end zone again. Their only remaining points came when Bates connected on a 54-yard field goal with just over two minutes left. By then, Detroit trailed 16–9, and the earlier missed extra point loomed large.
After the game, head coach Dan Campbell didn’t mince words about the sequence.“I told him it was a hell of a play,” Campbell said. “Just don’t do that again.”
The NFL has prohibited players from using the goal posts as props since 2014, and violations automatically draw a 15-yard penalty.
Williams ended the night with four catches for 88 yards and the touchdown. Detroit’s passing game, however, sputtered overall; Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown combined for just six receptions on 19 targets. Williams has now caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games.
The Lions’ 16–9 defeat dropped them to 6–4, placing them third in the NFC North.
