Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Watch: Lions score 21-yard TD on unconventional trick play

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 22, 2024 3:45 PM ET

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff stumbled before throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter in Sunday's road game against the Chicago Bears. Or did he?

Instant replay showed Goff may have been acting. It appeared he was faking his stumble so the Bears would rush him, leaving tight end Sam LaPorta wide-open in the end zone.

Lions second-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs also "fell" before popping up and providing extra pass protection.

Some nice trickery by the Lions and Jared Goff finds Sam LaPorta in the end zone!

: FOX pic.twitter.com/h2XgcOKFWa
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 22, 2024

"Now, it looks intentional," Fox analyst Jonathan Vilma said during the broadcast. "You have Jared Goff fake stumbling, then LaPorta screaming out of the other side."

If it was a trick play, it would demonstrate why Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is one of the best play callers in the NFL.

Goff isn't a fleet-footed QB. In his first 14 games, he has been sacked 26 times and has rushed for 60 yards on 31 carries. However, Johnson used a disadvantage to take advantage of the Bears on the play.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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