In the closing seconds of last Sunday’s dramatic matchup between the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field, Amon-Ra St. Brown had a clear plan. Facing fourth-and-goal, the Pro Bowl wide receiver knew that if he couldn’t cross the goal line himself, he would try to keep the play alive by pitching the ball to a teammate.

That’s exactly what happened. After making the catch, St. Brown lateraled the ball to quarterback Jared Goff, who appeared to score what fans believed was a walk-off touchdown.
However, the celebration didn’t last long.

St. Brown was flagged for offensive pass interference after making contact with Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey in the end zone. Because the penalty occurred during the final play of regulation, the score was wiped out—and the game ended immediately.

What surprised many was St. Brown’s admission afterward that he expected Detroit to get one final snap.
Speaking on his podcast alongside his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown, the Lions receiver said he was confused when officials ruled the game over.

“I saw the flag and figured it was probably OPI,” St. Brown explained. “But I thought we’d still get another play—like one more shot. Then they said the game was over. I didn’t even know that rule existed.”

The rule he was referring to states that when the offense commits a penalty on the final play of a half or the game, no untimed down is awarded. Since time expired during the play and the foul was on Detroit, the contest ended immediately.

While that rule is widely known among players and fans, it raised eyebrows that a veteran receiver of St. Brown’s stature wasn’t aware of it.

To his credit, St. Brown didn’t dispute the call. He acknowledged that he created separation with a slight push and understood why the officials threw the flag. After the game, he took accountability, emphasizing that the loss wasn’t decided by a single moment and that Detroit had numerous chances earlier to change the outcome.

Despite the frustration, he admitted the ending was unforgettable.
“The whole thing was wild,” St. Brown said. “One of the craziest games I’ve ever been part of. Back-to-back OPI calls like that at the end—it was insane.”

The final sequence was chaotic, including an initial touchdown ruling that briefly ignited celebrations throughout Ford Field before being overturned. While the officiating process appeared messy, referee Carl Cheffers and his crew ultimately applied the rules correctly—much to the Steelers’ benefit.