Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions stole from Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers to fool the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The deception occurred during the third quarter of a 34-17 victory when Goff completed a touchdown pass after the Lions had feigned a fumble. Goff dropped back, purposefully stumbling. Jahmyr Gibbs pretended to fall for the ball while Detroit players yelled “Fumble!” Goff then threw to Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown, making the score 34-14.
Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator, came to Goff on Monday with a slightly different strategy. The quarterback was purposefully fumbling, akin to the traditional trick play called the “fumblerooski.” They changed the plan because Goff didn’t think he could pull that one off. They perfected the play against the Bears after honing it during practice.
Ben first asked if I believed I could intentionally fumble and pick it back up on Monday, Goff recalled. “I stated that I was unaware of that. ‘Let’s just pretend we’re falling or pretend I’m fumbling but I’m hanging onto the ball,’ we thought after getting off that very fast. The scene where Gibbs dives, in my opinion, truly makes the play. Only half of it is being done by myself. According to Gibbs and Tim Patrick, Johnson was inspired to make the play by the Packers’ victory at Soldier Field in the previous season. Love fumbled the snap and found a wide-open Luke Musgrave on a 37-yard throw.