Overview
- A play in the second quarter at Ford Field on Sept. 13, 2026, saw Chase Young strip Jared Goff, Jonas Sanker return the ball for a defensive touchdown, and the call overturned on replay as an incomplete forward pass.
- NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth and the replay office said officials used 2026 rulebook language that marks the start of a passer’s throwing motion as the point that makes later contact a forward pass.
- The reversal removed seven points for New Orleans and was a decisive swing in a game the Detroit Lions won 31-30 in overtime.
- Players and coaches, including Dan Campbell and Jared Goff, expressed surprise or confusion after the game and analysts criticized the rule as counterintuitive because the ball clearly traveled backward.
- The rule traces to wording changed since 2022 and critics warn the current definition can make it very hard to record QB fumbles on contact, a practical concern likely to drive calls for clarification or amendment.