It’s troublesome to overshadow a recreation during which two touchdowns have been negated by the officers within the final 30 seconds, enabling the Pittsburgh Steelers to hold on for a 29-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday in a Week 16 recreation with vital playoff implications.
Offensive interference penalties erased each Lions scores, together with one of many wildest performs ever seen as time expired. What probably may steal a headline from that?
How about Steelers star broad receiver DK Metcalf reaching into the stands and swinging at a fan with seemingly extra power than the contact by Lions receivers that prompted the offensive interference flags?
A number of movies captured Metcalf method a fan carrying a blue wig on the first row of seats behind the Steelers’ bench at Ford Discipline. The fan leaned over the rail to say one thing and Metcalf reached up, grabbed him by the shirt or wig along with his proper hand then slapped him earlier than turning and strolling away.
What would immediate Metcalf, one of many NFL’s high receivers in every of his seven seasons, to lose his mood and have interaction with a fan in a manner strictly forbidden by the league?
Properly, the fan, who recognized himself as Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Mich., to the Detroit Free Press, stated he referred to as Metcalf by his full given identify — DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf — and that apparently touched a nerve.
“He doesn’t like his authorities identify. I referred to as him that after which he grabbed me and ripped my shirt,” Kennedy stated. “I’m a bit shocked. Like everybody’s speaking to me. I’m a bit rattled, however I simply need the Lions to win, child.”
Kennedy didn’t get his want because of Lions receivers getting too pushy themselves, albeit on the sector of play.
The play that will likely be replayed numerous instances got here as time expired. Lions star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown was stopped after catching a move on the one-yard line, however earlier than the whistle St. Brown underhanded the ball again to quarterback Jared Goff, who barreled into the top zone for what seemed to be a miraculous game-winning landing.
Nonetheless, St. Brown had given Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey a shove earlier than breaking free to make the catch and a flag had been thrown earlier than Goff crossed the purpose line. The officers introduced after a prolonged huddle that St. Brown had dedicated offensive move interference and that the sport was over.
The relevant NFL rule reads: “If there’s a foul by the offense, there shall be no extension of the interval. If the foul happens on the final play of the half, a rating by the offense just isn’t counted.”
Fewer than 30 seconds earlier, Lions rookie broad receiver Isaac TeSlaa set an unlawful choose that enabled St. Brown — a former USC and Mater Dei Excessive star — to interrupt free ultimately zone and make a nine-yard scoring catch.
The Steelers sideline erupted in pleasure after the second name resulted in a victory that put them answerable for their future for the AFC North title. They want one win or a Baltimore Ravens loss within the final two weeks of the common season to clinch it and safe a house playoff recreation.
The Lions, in the meantime, had their playoff probabilities decreased to six% after the loss.
DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf, it may be presumed, has a close to 100% likelihood of being fined and suspended by the NFL for taking the swing at Kennedy.
