The Atlanta Falcons know all about bad luck. During a game against the Detroit Lions in 2017, though, the Falcons got a lucky bounce that helped them win a thriller.
Entering Atlanta’s Week 3 matchup with Detroit that season, both teams were 2-0 and the game came down to the final drive. Quarterback Matthew Stafford drove the Lions downfield and hit Golden Tate on a quick slant with 10 seconds left that looked to be the go-ahead touchdown.
Tate’s catch went for an automatic review — as all scoring plays do — and was overturned. The referee also announced that because the play was overturned, there would be an automatic 10-second runoff, which ended the game.
Last time we played the Lions, it came all the way down to the wire…#TBT
đź“ş: #DETvsATL Sunday 1pm, FOX pic.twitter.com/x911FjCt6c
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 22, 2020
The Falcons didn’t complain and have had their share of bad or unlucky calls go against them. Truthfully, it wasn’t the fault of anyone in Detroit that day. The NFL put the referee in an unwinnable spot by not having any kind of situational aspect to the 10-second runoff rule.
On Sunday, the Lions will visit the Falcons for the first time since that 2017 matchup, and both teams have regressed since that last meeting. Entering Week 7, the two are a combined 3-8.
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