Referees’ bad call turns Saints defensive TD into Jared Goff incompletion

In the early stages of the Week 1 Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints matchup, an odd incident occurred during the second quarter. As Lions quarterback Jared Goff prepared to throw the football, he was hit and the ball went backward, ultimately being picked up by Saints' player Jonas Sanker who ran it into the end zone. Most observers believed this to be a touchdown, but officials ruled it as an incomplete pass.

To explain the decision, FOX consulted rules expert Mike Pereira. He stated that once a quarterback begins his throwing motion, it's considered a forward pass regardless of where the ball ends up. "Once a quarterback raises the ball up he basically can’t ever fumble because his intent is to throw the ball forward," Pereira explained.

This decision, reminiscent of the controversial Tuck Rule, overturned a Saints touchdown in a tightly contested game. The play unfolded as follows: Goff was around the 25-yard line when he was hit, and the ball landed inside the 20-yard line. This rule application had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.