‘Freaking GENIUS’ trick play TD you have to see to believe; rookie QB’s statement win — NFL Wrap

The Detroit Lions are 13-2 for the first time in the franchise’s 95-year history and aren’t they enjoying themselves.

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Offensive co-ordinator Ben Johnson has already been earmarked as an NFL coach of the future, quickly earning a reputation as one of the league’s most innovative playcallers.

And on Monday he proved just how deep his bag of tricks is after the Lions scored off a fake fumble trick play in a 34-17 win over the Chicago Bears.

At first, the commentators seemed to think Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had fumbled the ball, with running back Jahmyr Gibbs even hitting the ground to further sell the play.

But instead of Detroit losing yardage on the play, Goff suddenly turned around and fired a 21-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Sam LaPorta.

Goff confirmed in a post-game interview that it was an intentional play, explaining Johnson asked him earlier in the week if he could pull off the fake fumble.

“We kinda cooked it all week and then had a good moment for it and it worked,” he said.

According to ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, the play was inspired by Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

“The Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs coordinated trip on the LaPorta TD play is called ‘stumble bum’ and it WAS a designed trip, inspired by a play Ben Johnson saw of Jordan Love actually dropping the snap vs. Chicago and pulling off a big pass,” Kahler wrote on Twitter.

FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho described it as the “most brilliant concept” he had seen all year, before going on to break down the play.

“Goff and Gibbs both faked a fumble on the hand off, causing the Bears’ linebackers to step up and allow LaPorta to slip out wide open into the end zone,” he said.

“Now the reason you do this is because linebackers, their eyes are always in the backfield. So when they see the quarterback fall down and the running back fall down, their natural instinct is, ‘Wait. See ball, go get ball.’ We think there’s going to be a fumble.

“Here’s the problem, the linebackers have to guard No. 87 (LaPorta) on this play.”

Johnson was already a man in-demand last summer but decided to head back for another season with Detroit, although at this rate it looks like it’ll be hard for the Lions to retain their genius offensive co-ordinator.

Coincidentally, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on NFL GameDay Morning that Johnson is intrigued by the head coach opening at Chicago.

“There’s a lot to like in Chicago with Caleb Williams, tons of cap space, extra draft resources,” Pelissero said.

“Team president Kevin Warren has a lot of connections around the league from his several decades in pro and college football. That’s allowed them to get a jump start on the search process, gathering background as part of what is expected to be a thorough search led by Warren and GM Ryan Poles.”

This is the same Lions team that has been hit with the biggest injury toll in the NFL, with their defence in particular banged up after losing a number of big names in last week’s defeat to Buffalo.

Detroit coach Dan Campbell made the most of the adversity though, declaring in one radio interview that the Lions had been “used to eating fillet” but “forgot what it was like when you had nothing and you ate your f***ing mouldy bread”.

It is quite the analogy but once again the Lions seem to have answered the challenge set by coach Campbell.

Gibbs rushed 23 times for 109 yards and a touchdown without usually running mate David Montgomery while Goff threw for three touchdowns, including one long-range score to speedster Jameson Williams.

The Lions entered the week with the same record as both the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles but held the tiebreaker over both for the top seed in the NFC.

The Eagles did Detroit a favour by losing on Monday while the Vikings won 27-24 against the Seahawks.

ROOKIE QB MAKES FIVE-TD STATEMENT IN UNLIKELY WIN

Speaking of Philadelphia, its 10-game winning streak came to an end on Monday as Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels threw five touchdown passes in a 36-33 victory which saw the Eagles lose quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion.

The Commanders piled up 22 points in the fourth quarter, rookie signal-caller Daniels finding Jamison Crowder with a nine-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left to secure what had seemed an unlikely win given Washington turned the ball over five times.

The Eagles, who hadn’t lost since September, were without Hurts for most of the game after he hit his head on the turf after a tackle in the first quarter and was ruled out with a concussion.

Kenny Pickett replaced him and threw for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but at 12-3 the Eagles dropped out of a tie for best record in the NFC and failed to clinch the NFC East division title.

The win, meanwhile, puts the Commanders (10-5) in strong position to snare a wild card spot, while they also remain alive in the division race.

FAIRYTALE TOUCHDOWN RETURN AS RAMS ROLL ON

The Los Angeles Rams remained in control of the NFC West division with a 19-9 victory over the New York Jets.

Trailing 9-6 at halftime, the Rams tied it at 9-9 on Joshua Karty’s 38-yard field goal early in the fourth.

The Rams then forced a turnover with a strip sack of Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford capped a three-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee — who was making his season debut after tearing two knee ligaments in last year’s playoffs.

Karty capped the scoring with a 45-yard field goal and the Rams, who started the season 1-4, improved to 9-6 atop the NFC West.

GIANTS LOSE… AND NOW CONTROL OWN DESTINY AS JAGS WIN

In Atlanta, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. made his first career start in place of struggling Kirk Cousins and threw for 202 yards in a 34-7 victory over the New York Giants.

Atlanta’s defence was key, as safety Jessie Bates and outside linebacker Matthew Judon returned interceptions of Giants quarterback Drew Lock for touchdowns.

For the Giants, the loss means they now are projected for the first overall pick in next year’s draft after the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are tipped to be the top two quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft and at this stage, the Giants will have control of who they view as their long-term option at the position after the Daniel Jones contract backfired.

The Giants close out the season against the Colts and Eagles.

The Patriots have the second pick after they threatened to cause one of the boilovers of the season against Buffalo, before eventually suffering a 24-21 loss, while the Jaguars sit third after their loss to the Raiders.

Updated NFL Draft order:

1. Giants (2-13)