It took a lot longer than anybody in Detroit wanted, but the Lions managed to pull away with their first win of the 2021 season on Sunday when Jared Goff hit rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 11-yard touchdown pass with no time left on the clock, and the Vikings fell, 29-27.
AMON-RA ST BROWN FOR THE WIN pic.twitter.com/ffzFj9Q3xU
— Hookah Doncic (@MasterTes) December 5, 2021
It was entirely appropriate that St. Brown, the brother of Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, had the game-winning touchdown catch, because were it not for his efforts a few plays before on the deciding drive, Goff would have thrown an easy pick to Minnesota cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
It shouldn’t be lost that several plays before this, St Brown played perfect defense and broke up what would have been a game ending INT https://t.co/XSFitjf2bK
— Nick Bruewer (@BruewerNick) December 5, 2021
On the play, which happened with 22 seconds left in the game from the Minnesota-yard line, Goff missed a late backside blitz from safety Harrison Smith, who pressured Goff into throwing up a duck into the end zone, Only St. Brown’s efforts to essentially track and play the ball like a defender would saved the drive, and eventually, the win.