Just like that, the game was at least tied.
However, the referees stopped the play, signaling that the two-minute warning had been reached before the ball was snapped.
“Mechanically, we have an official watching the clock, and his ruling was that the clock had hit two minutes when the ball was snapped,” referee Brad Rogers explained to pool reporter Josh Weinfuss.
“By rule, when the clock hits two minutes, the play is dead. We don’t allow the play to proceed and began blowing whistles to stop it.
“I understand the play started, but once we blow the whistle, it halts everything. Some players kept moving because they apparently didn’t hear the whistles – so it looked like part of the action continued while some stopped. But when we blow the whistle, the play is completely stopped.”
It was a tough moment for the Cardinals, who then saw the Lions respond with a seven-play, 72-yard touchdown drive right before halftime.
Gannon’s reaction to the situation? “They call what they call,” he said after the game.
