‘Freaking genius’ trick play touchdown you have to see to believe
The internet has gone into meltdown with one of the most outrageous touchdown plays you simply have to see to believe.
NFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Detroit Lions are 13-2 for the first time in the franchise’s 95-year history and aren’t they enjoying themselves.
Offensive co-ordinator Ben Johnson has already been earmarked as an NFL coach of the future, quickly earning a reputation as one of the league’s most innovative playcallers.
Watch an average of 6 games each week during the regular season, plus every game of the NFL Postseason including the Super Bowl, LIVE on ESPN with Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
And on Monday he proved just how deep his bag of tricks is after the Lions scored off a fake fumble trick play in a 34-17 win over the Chicago Bears.
At first, the commentators seemed to think Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had fumbled the ball, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs even hitting the ground to further sell the play.
But instead of Detroit losing yardage on the play, Goff suddenly turned around and fired a 21-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Sam LaPorta.
Goff confirmed in a post-game interview that it was an intentional play, explaining Johnson asked him earlier in the week if he could pull off the fake fumble.
“We kinda cooked it all week and then had a good moment for it and it worked,” he said.
According to ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, the play was inspired by Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
#Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta explain the “stumble bum†play where Gibbs and Jared Goff appeared to fake a botched snap, which led to a 21-yard LaPorta touchdown. They worked on it 3-4 times this week. It was a designed trip by Goff, spearheaded by Lions OC Ben Johnson. pic.twitter.com/lh1o2ziVrH
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) December 22, 2024
Ben Johnson saw this happen against the Bears, designed a play based on it, and unleashed it against the Bears the next season.
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) December 22, 2024
That's diabolical. https://t.co/8iRekCH7sK
“The Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs coordinated trip on the LaPorta TD play is called ‘stumble bum’ and it WAS a designed trip, inspired by a play Ben Johnson saw of Jordan Love actually dropping the snap vs. Chicago and pulling off a big pass,” Kahler wrote on Twitter.
FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho described it as the “most brilliant concept” he had seen all year, before going on to break down the play.
“Goff and Gibbs both faked a fumble on the hand off, causing the Bears’ linebackers to step up and allow LaPorta to slip out wide open into the end zone,” he said.
“Now the reason you do this is because linebackers, their eyes are always in the backfield. So when they see the quarterback fall down and the running back fall down, their natural instinct is, ‘Wait. See ball, go get ball.’ We think there’s going to be a fumble.
“Here’s the problem, the linebackers have to guard No. 87 (LaPorta) on this play.”
Johnson was already a man in-demand last summer but decided to head back for another season with Detroit, although at this rate it looks like it’ll be hard for the Lions to retain their genius offensive co-ordinator.
Coincidentally, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on NFL GameDay Morning that Johnson is intrigued by the head coach opening at Chicago.
“There’s a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, extra draft resources,” Pelissero said.
“Team president Kevin Warren has a lot of connections around the league from his several decades in pro and college football. That’s allowed them to get a jump start on the search process, gathering background as part of what is expected to be a thorough search led by Warren and GM Ryan Poles.”
This is the same Lions team that has been hit with the biggest injury toll in the NFL, with their defence in particular banged up after losing a number of big names in last week’s defeat to Buffalo.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell made the most of the adversity though, declaring in one radio interview that the Lions had been “used to eating fillet” but “forgot what it was like when you had nothing and you ate your f***ing mouldy bread”.
It is quite the analogy but once again the Lions seem to have answered the challenge set by coach Campbell.
Gibbs rushed 23 times for 109 yards and a touchdown without usually running mate David Montgomery while Goff threw for three touchdowns, including one long-range score to speedster Jameson Williams.
The Lions entered the week with the same record as both the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles but held the tiebreaker over both for the top seed in the NFC.
The Eagles did Detroit a favour by losing on Monday while the Vikings won 27-24 against the Seahawks.
ROOKIE QB MAKES FIVE-TD STATEMENT IN UNLIKELY WIN
Speaking of Philadelphia, its 10-game winning streak came to an end on Monday as Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels threw five touchdown passes in a 36-33 victory which saw the Eagles lose quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion.
The Commanders piled up 22 points in the fourth quarter, rookie signal-caller Daniels finding Jamison Crowder with a nine-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left to secure what had seemed an unlikely win given Washington turned the ball over five times.
The Eagles, who hadn’t lost since September, were without Hurts for most of the game after he hit his head on the turf after a tackle in the first quarter and was ruled out with a concussion.
Kenny Pickett replaced him and threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but at 12-3 the Eagles dropped out of a tie for best record in the NFC and failed to clinch the NFC East division title.
The win, meanwhile, puts the Commanders (10-5) in strong position to snare a wild card spot, while they also remain alive in the division race.
FAIRYTALE TOUCHDOWN RETURN AS RAMS ROLL ON
The Los Angeles Rams remained in control of the NFC West division with a 19-9 victory over the New York Jets.
Trailing 9-6 at halftime, the Rams tied it at 9-9 on Joshua Karty’s 38-yard field goal early in the fourth.
The Rams then forced a turnover with a strip sack of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford capped a three-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee -- who was making his season debut after tearing two knee ligaments in last year’s playoffs.
Karty capped the scoring with a 45-yard field goal and the Rams, who started the season 1-4, improved to 9-6 atop the NFC West.
GIANTS LOSE... AND NOW CONTROL OWN DESTINY AS JAGS WIN
In Atlanta, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his first career start in place of struggling Kirk Cousins and threw for 202 yards in a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants.
Atlanta’s defence was key, as safety Jessie Bates and outside linebacker Matthew Judon returned interceptions of Giants quarterback Drew Lock for touchdowns.
For the Giants, the loss means they now are projected for the first overall pick in next year’s draft after the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are tipped to be the top two quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft and at this stage, the Giants will have control of who they view as their long-term option at the position after the Daniel Jones contract backfired.
The Giants close out the season against the Colts and Eagles.
The Patriots have the second pick after they threatened to cause one of the boilovers of the season against Buffalo, before eventually suffering a 24-21 loss, while the Jaguars sit third after their loss to the Raiders.
Updated NFL Draft order:
1. Giants (2-13)
2. Patriots (3-12)
3. Jaguars (3-12)
4. Titans (3-12)
5. Browns (3-12)
6. Raiders (3-12)
7. Panthers (4-11)
8. Jets (4-11)
9. Bears (4-11)
BURROW’S ‘SUPERMAN’ TOUCHDOWN IN BENGALS WIN
Meanwhile, Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow threw for three touchdowns and receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught six passes for 97 yards. That gave him 1,510 for the season, breaking his own franchise record for a single campaign.
Burrow, meanwhile, pulled off one of the more remarkable touchdowns of the season with a falling effort to connect with Tee Higgins.
“The one he threw to me, not because it’s my touchdown. The motherf***er looked like Superman when he was throwing,” said Higgins.
“So I’m calling him Superman from this day forward. F*** Batman. Superman.”
RIDICULOUS from Joe Burrow.
— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
📺: #CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909gepic.twitter.com/4JW81W2V5B
COLTS ALMOST DO THE UNTHINKABLE
The Colts needed to win on Monday to keep their playoff hopes alive and they did just that, although it was a lot closer than it should have been.
Indianapolis looked on track for a comfortable win when Jonathan Taylor punched in his third touchdown of the game to put the Colts ahead 38-7 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
But in a game that brought back memories of the Minneapolis miracle, where Minnesota came back from 33-0 down to beat Indy 39-36 in overtime, the Colts suddenly found themselves at risk of another stunning meltdown.
A Tyjae Spears score reduced the deficit to 38-15 entering the fourth quarter and even after Nick Westbrook-Ikhine scored to make it 38-22, it was still a 16-point lead for the Colts entering the final three minutes of the game.
But a second Spears touchdown, followed by a successful two-point attempt, put the Titans within one score of the Colts with just under three minutes left.
Tennessee wasn’t able to pull it off, strangely playing quite soft coverage and allowing the Colts to get enough first downs to ice the win.
Taylor had a huge game on the ground for the Colts, erupting for 218 yards and three scores while quarterback Anthony Richardson only had to attempt 11 passes in the victory.
REDEMPTION FOR BREAKOUT PANTHERS STAR AS CARDINALS ELIMINATED
Elsewhere, another team that needed to win to remain in the playoff hunt was the Arizona Cardinals and they couldn’t get the job done, going down 36-30 in overtime to the Carolina Panthers.
It was redemption for Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard, who has been a revelation and the engine of the Panthers offence with rookie Jonathon Brooks missing the majority of the season.
Hubbard had a costly fumble in an overtime loss to Tampa Bay earlier in the season but this time around he turned game-winner, running for 49 yards on the final drive and scoring the decisive touchdown.
“Obviously I was down in that moment, but I knew I’d get another one and I’d do right by it. Just blessed, glad to finish the right way,” Hubbard later said.
Hubbard, who agreed to a four-year extension with the Panthers in November, rushed 25 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns all up in Monday’s win while Bryce Young continues to look poised in his remarkable turnaround since being benched earlier in the year.
He completed 17 of 26 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other side of the field, star Cardinals running back James Conner picked up a knee injury but not before rumbling 15 times for 117 yards and a score.
Kyler Murray, meanwhile, completed 20 of 32 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown but also threw an inexplicable interception.
DOLPHINS STILL IN PLAY FOR POST-SEASON
Things got off to a rocky start in Miami this season after another concussion sidelined Tua Tagovailoa for an extended period, but the Dolphins have steadied the ship and remain in playoff contention after a 29-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Injuries have ruined San Francisco’s hopes of making a second-straight Super Bowl, with the 49ers eliminated before Monday’s game because of wins by the Rams and Commanders.
The loss to Miami, meanwhile, means this will be San Francisco’s first losing season since 2020.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE (* = playoffs clinched)
1. Detroit Lions* (13-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles* (12-3) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6) vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings* (13-2)
On the bubble
8. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
Eliminated
Arizona Cardinals
Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers
New York Giants
AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE (* = playoffs clinched)
1. Kansas City Chiefs* (14-1)
2. Buffalo Bills* (12-3) vs. 7. Denver Broncos (9-6)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers* (10-5) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
4. Houston Texans* (9-6) vs. 5. Baltimore Ravens* (10-5)
On the bubble
8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
Eliminated
New York Jets
Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans
Las Vegas Raiders
New England Patriots
Originally published as ‘Freaking genius’ trick play touchdown you have to see to believe
Once-in-50-year NFL play stuns America
The Chargers dusted off the rule book and made the most of a play not seen in the NFL in 48 years during their game against the Broncos.
Has a massive injury opened the door for a new Super Bowl favourite?
With three weeks left in the NFL season, there’s a new Super Bowl favourite: with a longtime nemesis injured, can it turn around years and years of losing?