The ending of Sunday’s Detroit Lions loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers sparked outrage, confusion, and nonstop debate, and now the NFL has officially explained how it all unfolded.
Following Detroit’s 29–24 loss at Ford Field, the league released its pool report, with PFWA pool reporter Nolan Bianchi interviewing referee Carl Cheffers to clarify both offensive pass interference calls that wiped out potential go-ahead touchdowns in the final seconds.
The explanations don’t make the result sting any less, but they do shed light on why the officials ruled the way they did.
Why Was OPI Called on the Final Play?
Question: What was the action that led to an offensive pass interference call on Amon-Ra St. Brown on the final play of the game?
Cheffers:
“The official who called the foul said that the receiver created separation that gave him an advantage in catching the pass. So, he called pass interference.”
That ruling wiped out what appeared to be a walk-off touchdown after Amon-Ra St. Brown caught the ball and lateraled it to Jared Goff, who leapt into the end zone as time expired.
Why Was There Such a Long Discussion After the Play?
The delay on the field only added to the chaos — and confusion — inside Ford Field.
Question: There was a pretty long discussion on the field between officials before the final call was announced. What were the officials discussing on the field after the last play?
Cheffers:
“It is a pretty complex play. We had the original player who had the ball lose possession of the ball. So, we had to decide if that was a fumble or a backwards pass because, of course, we have restrictions on the recovery of a fumble inside of two minutes.
We ruled that it was a backward pass, so the recovering player was able to advance it and that recovering player advanced it for a touchdown. We had to rule on that and then because of the offensive pass interference, it negates the touchdown.
Because it is an offensive foul, we do not extend the half. Therefore, there is no score and there is no replay of the down. That’s the way the rule is written.”
That explanation confirms why the Lions were not given another snap despite the touchdown initially being ruled good on the field.
What About the Earlier OPI on Isaac TeSlaa?
The final play wasn’t the only controversial call.
Moments earlier, Detroit thought it had taken the lead on a touchdown pass, only to see it erased by offensive pass interference on rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
Question: A few plays earlier, there was an offensive pass interference penalty on Isaac TeSlaa that nullified a touchdown catch. What was the specific infraction that warranted throwing the flag?
Cheffers:
“The reporting official on that play told me that the offending player picked one of the defenders, creating an opportunity for the offensive player to make the catch.”
Was TeSlaa Far Enough Downfield for OPI?
One of the biggest points of debate centered on whether TeSlaa was far enough past the line of scrimmage for the pick to be illegal.
Question: Was it deemed that he was beyond a yard of the line of scrimmage, more than one yard past the line of scrimmage?
Cheffers:
“Well, it has to be beyond a yard or it would not be a foul. The ruling on the field was that the action occurred beyond a yard.”
Why This Ending Will Be Debated for a Long Time
From a rulebook standpoint, the NFL made its case clear:
- Both plays were ruled offensive pass interference
- Both involved receivers creating separation or picks beyond one yard
- The final touchdown could not stand, and the half could not be extended
From a Lions perspective, that explanation won’t soften the blow.
Detroit had two separate go-ahead touchdowns wiped out in the final 25 seconds, watched its playoff odds crater, and left Ford Field feeling like the season turned on judgment calls rather than execution.
The league has spoken.
The rules have been cited.
But for Lions fans, this ending will remain one of the most painful and controversial of the 2025 season.
One Response
The first OPI was called on a player that was pushed into another player. Was not the rookie’s (TeSlaa) doing. But when the flag was thrown it was on him. Since all touch down are reviewed, when under 2min. how was that not seen, everybody who watch the game saw the same thing. Detroit should’ve been the winner of that game.