'That's not how you would want a game like that to end': Cam Newton reacts to officiating in Steelers-Lions thriller

It is hard to find a more bizarre sequence at the end of an NFL game than the one that transpired in Sunday's high stakes affair between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions.

The Lions entered the game at 8-6 and in desperate need of a win to improve their precarious playoff outlook. Even though Detroit trailed by 12 with five minutes remaining, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown played a role in two potential go-ahead touchdowns that were overturned in the final minute, the first for an offensive pass interference penalty on rookie Isaac TeSlaa that took away a TD from St. Brown.

As time expired, St. Brown lateraled the ball to quarterback Jared Goff, who appeared to score the game-winning TD, only for it to be nullified for an offensive pass interference penalty on St. Brown, effectively pushing the Lions to the brink of playoff elimination in a 29-24 loss.

It is certainly debatable whether the officials should have even made those calls considering what was at stake and the fact that neither penalty looked egregious. Former MVP and current ESPN analyst Cam Newton was not a fan of the game coming down to those calls.

Cam Newton reacts to officials getting involved in finish to Steelers-Lions game

"That's not how you would want a game like that to end, especially with the implications that it posed," Newton said on Monday's edition of "First Take." "But, offensive football ... the receiver has to make a more sound effort to avoid the defender even though he's being blocked or touched into the defender. That's teach tape. You see these type of dynamics and you see Amon-Ra (St. Brown) kind of hesitant to celebrate because he's seen the flag. 

"But, that's a typical, regular rub combination that every team in the NFL has. ... I would hate for any type of referee to make a call that impacts the game as much as it did in the latter part of the Steelers and Detroit game and it's just unfortunate for the Detroit Lions."