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The Detroit Lions did it. Despite a stalled offense and a leaky defense, the Detroit Lions overcame it all and scored the game-winning score with just eight seconds left to play. The Lions were 3-0 and on their way to Minnesota.
The Stafford to Tate... Touchdown? got canceled, #Falcons won. pic.twitter.com/onTkIURiTD
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 24, 2017
Until the refs took over.
Golden Tate took an inside slant and reached over to the end zone. But as he was reaching, his left knee may have grazed the Ford Field turf.
Ball breaks the plane, Tate's knee not down. How did the refs overturn the TD? #LionsRobbed pic.twitter.com/ncTq8xVsm8
— David Sajdak (@dasajdak) September 24, 2017
The referees looked over the play for several minutes. Slow motion replay after slow motion replay seemed to show Tate’s knee come within millimeters of the turf.
Hey @NFL, if you're worried about getting the call right, how about pass interference on the guy grabbing Golden Tate's left arm? #Lions pic.twitter.com/BGyTcrAvcS
— Jason Roher (@JasonRoher) September 24, 2017
After deliberating, the officials determined Tate’s knee had hit the ground, leaving the ball a half yard short. Because the touchdown call stopped the running clock, the overturn resulted in a 10-second runoff and the game was over.
What was once an unbelievable comeback became a touchdown robbed.
Was it the right call? You be the judge.
You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/aQP62u2M6F
— Pride Of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) September 24, 2017