Football is a game of inches—just ask Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson.
Johnson caught a pass with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the Seahawks, and he raced 10 yards down to the 1-yard line. As he prepared to stretch for the goal line, he was met by the Kam Chancellor-Earl Thomas safety duo.
Johnson was holding the ball away from his body, and Chancellor capitalized.
Thomas went for the hit, while Chancellor attempted to poke the football out of Johnson’s hands. He succeeded, and the result was a touchback (although the Lions should have retained possession as K.J. Wright illegally batted the ball out of the end zone).
Calvin Johnson For The Win?? KAM CHANCELLOR SAYS NO! What. A. Play. #DETvsSEA http://t.co/GKHSR6aXrA
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2015
The fumble was costly, as the Seahawks were clinging to a 13-10 lead at the time. A touchdown would’ve given the Lions a 16-13 lead with under two minutes remaining, and the Seahawks possibly could’ve fallen to 2-2 on the season.
Megatron had 61 red-zone receptions before that play, and that was the first time he fumbled in the process. And it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
