Lions’ Wild Finish Ends in Controversy, Playoff Hopes on Life Support
The Detroit Lions were inches away-literally-from pulling off one of the most dramatic finishes of the NFL season. But instead of celebrating a walk-off win, they walked off the field stunned, flagged, and facing a steep climb to keep their playoff hopes alive.
With just eight seconds left on the clock, Detroit trailed Pittsburgh 29-24 and had one last chance from the 9-yard line. Jared Goff, calm under pressure, dropped back and zipped a pass to Amon-Ra St.
Brown just shy of the goal line. St.
Brown was immediately wrapped up by a pair of Steelers defenders, but instead of going down, he made a heads-up move-lateraling the ball back to Goff. The quarterback dove into the end zone as time expired, and for a moment, Ford Field erupted in celebration.
It looked like the Lions had pulled off a miracle.
OH MY GOD???????????? pic.twitter.com/opW8Xj9ZvO
— Mr Matthew CFP (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 22, 2025
Then came the flags.
What was initially ruled a touchdown was quickly wiped away. Officials called offensive pass interference on St.
Brown, nullifying the score. With no time left on the clock, the game was over.
Steelers win, 29-24.
And that wasn’t even the first heartbreak of the drive.
Earlier in the same possession, Goff had found St. Brown for a 1-yard touchdown-only to see that one erased by another offensive pass interference call, this time on rookie Isaac TeSlaa for setting what was ruled an illegal pick.
One of the craziest finishes you will ever see in your life pic.twitter.com/j9znGOQmdq
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 22, 2025
Two touchdowns, both wiped out by penalties. One drive, zero points.
It was a crushing way to lose, especially for a team that entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Just a year removed from a 15-2 campaign and the NFC’s top seed, the Lions now sit at 8-7, teetering on the edge of elimination. According to NFL.com’s playoff projections, their odds of making the postseason have plummeted to just 6%.
Meanwhile, the Steelers-who’ve made a habit of winning ugly-walk away with a gritty road win, improving to 9-6 and keeping themselves firmly in the AFC playoff picture.
For Detroit, this one will sting. Not just because of the flags, but because of what could’ve been.
Lions are called for a CRUCIAL pass interference pic.twitter.com/zl5FHwc43r
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 22, 2025
The creativity, the awareness, the execution on that final play-it was everything you want to see in a must-have moment. But in the end, it goes down as just another “what if” in a season that’s slipping away fast.