Week 14 Pivotal Play: Marvin Jones’ ruled incompletion opens door for Matthew Stafford’s injury

The officials incorrectly called a Marvin Jones catch incomplete and just six plays later, Matthew Stafford was injured and left the game.

The Detroit Lions came up short in Week 14, losing a one-score game (31-24) to the division champion and conference-leading Green Bay Packers.

The Packers took control of this game from the start of the second half with their first possession chewing up nearly nine minutes (8:49) worth of clock and ending with an Aaron Rodgers rushing touchdown. The Lions went three and out on the ensuing possession. Then the Packers drove the length of the field again, this time resulting in an Aaron Jones rushing touchdown and another 7:49 off the clock.

While the dominating third quarter likely won the Packers this game — they opened their lead to 28-14 — the pivotal play that may have cost the Lions a chance at a true comeback came on the ensuing drive.

The Lions opened the drive at their own 25-yards line. A couple of quick plays to D’Andre Swift got them a first down, then a catch by Marvin Jones moved the sticks again. Two Packers penalties — with another Swift run in the middle of them — moved the Lions to the Packers 40-yard line. And another Packer penalty made it first and five from the 35-yards line.

With it being first and five, the Lions decided to take a shot deep and Marvin Jones made a sensational catch — kind of.

The play was ruled incomplete, but on replay, it’s looked fairly clear Jones got both feet down. FOX analysts, as well as rules expert Dean Blandino, all agreed: Jones made the catch and the call should be overturned.

Let’s take a closer look at the play again:

Maybe a still picture will clarify things:

Unfortunately, the officials didn’t feel there was enough evidence to overturn the call and announced that the play stood as called: incomplete.

Now, this play didn’t cost the Lions the game. Heck, Jones didn’t even score. And eventually — two minutes and 13 seconds later — the Lions would drive down the field and Kerryon Johnson would punch it in the endzone making the game 28-21.

But that call kept the Lions on the field and in a spot where they needed to work harder to keep this game close.

Six plays after the Jones called incompletion, Matthew Stafford was left exposed on a six-yard scramble, took a nasty hit to his ribs, and was forced to leave the game a play later.

That ended up costing the Lions their chance at a comeback.

Of course, the Jones play didn’t directly cause Stafford’s injury, but it’s fair to wonder: If the correct call is made on the field, would the Lions have had to turn to their backup quarterback at all?

Stafford is a tough as they come, but if he is forced to miss any time — well, we all know what happened last year.

The Lions reported that Stafford received X-rays after the game, was not available for his usual post-game press conference, and provided no updates on his injury status. Stay tuned to Lions Wire as we will have updates on his situation as they unfold.