With the first half winding down and the Pittsburgh Steelers struggling to find any rhythm offensively, it looked like they were headed into the locker room trailing the Detroit Lions. Then came a moment that flipped the script-and maybe the Steelers’ season.
Aaron Rodgers, ever the field general, spotted something in the Lions’ defensive alignment that triggered a last-second adjustment. He motioned running back Kenneth Gainwell out wide and told him to scrap the original flat route and instead run a go. What happened next was one of the most improbable-and unforgettable-plays of the NFL season.
Rodgers dropped back, saw his man streaking down the right sideline, and lofted a ball that looked more like a 50/50 prayer than a precision strike. But Gainwell, showing off the kind of concentration and body control you can’t teach, juggled the ball mid-stride, stayed on his feet after the catch, and raced untouched into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Steelers were tied heading into halftime.
It wasn’t just a highlight-reel play-it was a momentum-shifter. Pittsburgh rode the wave from that touchdown to score 19 unanswered points, eventually pulling out a controversial 29-24 win. And while the debate over some of the late-game officiating will linger, there's no question that the Gainwell touchdown was the emotional spark that lit the fire.
What makes the play even more remarkable is how quickly it all came together. In new footage, you can see Rodgers scanning the defense post-huddle, identifying the coverage, and making the audible to send Gainwell out wide.
That kind of real-time adjustment is what separates good quarterbacks from the all-time greats. Rodgers didn’t just change the play-he changed the game.
It’s the kind of moment that could loom large down the stretch. If the Steelers manage to hold onto the AFC North, this play will be remembered as the turning point-not just in the game, but possibly in their season. Because while it took a perfect throw and a spectacular catch, it all started with a quarterback trusting his eyes, his instincts, and his teammate to make something out of nothing.
Sometimes, the biggest plays don’t come from the playbook-they come from the mind of a veteran who’s seen it all and still has a few tricks up his sleeve.
What's better- @AaronRodgers12 and @KENNETHGAINWEL linking on that play or Tomlin's reaction 😂pic.twitter.com/WzNtqsq4AR
— Inside the NFL (@insidetheNFL) December 23, 2025