The Detroit Lions’ playoff hopes officially ended on Sunday, December 21, after a heartbreaking 29–24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers led by Aaron Rodgers. The defeat marked Detroit’s final opportunity to secure a postseason spot in the 2025–26 NFL season, closing the door on what had once looked like a promising year.
While the Lions fought until the final whistle, the game’s ending quickly became the center of controversy—particularly involving quarterback Jared Goff and a disputed officiating decision.
Confusion Surrounds Final Play vs. Steelers
The controversy unfolded on the game’s final play when Amon-Ra St. Brown appeared to score a potential game-winning touchdown as time expired. However, officials initially ruled offensive pass interference, citing contact between St. Brown and Jalen Ramsey during the route.
After a brief review, confusion followed as it appeared the touchdown might count—only for officials to confirm the game was over with no score awarded. Fans, players, and viewers were left baffled.
“I was all kinds of confused on the final play of the Steelers-Lions game,” one Lions fan posted on X.
Jared Goff Comments Spark NFL Review
Following the game, Jared Goff addressed the controversial call, describing it as a “bad call” during his postgame comments. Public criticism of officiating can lead to fines under NFL rules, putting Goff at risk of league discipline.
“The one where St. caught it that we thought was a touchdown, in my opinion, that’s a bad call,” Goff said. “Those things happen. They’ve got a tough job.”
Although Goff acknowledged the difficulty of officiating, his remarks were enough to prompt speculation about possible punishment.
NFL Announces No Punishment for Jared Goff
On Saturday, December 27, the NFL officially announced its decision regarding Goff’s comments—and ruled no fine and no disciplinary action would be issued.
The league hands out weekly fines for violations related to gameplay conduct and postgame behavior, but in this case, the NFL opted for restraint. The decision reflects an understanding that players sometimes speak emotionally following high-stakes moments.
Goff Explains What He Saw on the Final Penalty
Goff later clarified that he knew a penalty had been called but wasn’t immediately sure which team it was on.
“I knew there was a penalty. I was hoping it was defensive,” Goff said. “When I saw he wasn’t down, I thought maybe we’d get the touchdown and win the game—but it didn’t go that way.”
What’s Next for the Detroit Lions?
With the season officially over, the Detroit Lions now turn their focus to the 2026–27 season. Tough decisions loom as the franchise evaluates what went wrong after being legitimate contenders just a year earlier.
The controversial ending against Pittsburgh may sting for a while—but the NFL’s decision not to punish Jared Goff closes one chapter as Detroit begins planning its next move.
