The Arizona Cardinals may have missed out on a crucial defensive touchdown during their game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. With the Lions leading 13-7 and the ball at midfield just over two minutes before halftime, a pivotal moment unfolded at State Farm Stadium.
On a 3rd-and-12 play, Lions quarterback Jared Goff took the snap and was hit as he attempted a throw. The impact caused the ball to pop into the air, landing in the hands of Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., who returned it for an apparent touchdown.
However, the touchdown was ruled out as the play had already been blown dead. Amid the crowd noise, the referees decided that the Lions failed to snap the ball before the clock hit 2:00. Replays, however, showed Lions center Frank Ragnow snapped the ball with 2:01 remaining, leading to frustration for the Cardinals.
Some players clearly reacted to the whistle, easing up on the play. Had the whistle not been blown, the outcome may have been different. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, that won’t ease the frustration when watching the replay.
Following the blown whistle, the Lions picked up a first down after the two-minute warning. They capitalized on their drive by scoring a touchdown, with the controversial whistle proving to be a significant bailout.