Lions rookie WR Amon-Ra St. Brown’s defensive play made first win of season possible

It took a defensive play for the Lions to get their first win of the season. The defensive play came from Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

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.

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.

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.