The Detroit Lions’ playoff journey came to a crushing halt in the Divisional Round against the Washington Commanders. Yet, a recent revelation from the NFL has stirred up frustration among Lions fans, as it has been acknowledged that a missed penalty might have significantly influenced the outcome of the game and contributed to their defeat.
The Disputed Play In the game, with just over five minutes left in the first half, Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw an errant pass, which was intercepted by Washington safety Quan Martin. As Martin began to return the ball for a touchdown, Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu delivered a heavy hit to Goff’s head, taking him out of the play. Goff was later assessed for a concussion and missed the next series, though he cleared the protocol and returned to the field. However, the pivotal moment had already occurred. Despite the hit to Goff’s head, no penalty was called, and Martin’s interception return stood, putting the Lions behind 24-14 instead of retaining possession with a 15-yard penalty.
