How the Lions beat the Chargers on Riley Patterson's 41-yard game-winning field goal: Highlights, re
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff set up in shotgun formation. It was the final play of the first quarter. Detroit was at the Los Angeles Chargers’ 13-yard line and needed a yard for a first down.
Goff took one look at the Chargers’ defensive front before adjusting the play. Goff moved under center. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tight end Sam LaPorta shifted to the backfield. LaPorta was to Goff’s left, 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. St. Brown was to Goff’s right, 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. They both joined running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield. Gibbs was directly behind Goff, 9 yards deep.
Goff took the snap and handed off to St. Brown on a stretch play to the left. Gibbs played decoy on a fake pitch to the right. LaPorta executed a cut block on edge rusher Joey Bosa. Receiver Antoine Green, aligned split off the formation to the left, blocked down on safety Alohi Gilman. St. Brown followed his pulling left guard, Jonah Jackson, for an easy first down, attacking cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. on the edge.
It was just one play in the Chargers’ 41-38 loss to the Lions on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. And even a meaningless play in the outcome of the game. The Chargers, now 4-5 on the season, came up with a goal-line stand later in the drive — one of just two stops Brandon Staley’s defense forced in the game, not including a one-play possession at the end of the half.
Still, this play was a microcosm of what is wrong with the Chargers and has been wrong for years.
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