The Detroit Lions lived and died by the trick play in 2024. On Saturday night, their unorthodox play-calling on offense played a pivotal role in their demise against the Washington Commanders.
Trailing by 10 in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson boldly dialed up a trick play that asked quite a lot of young wide receiver Jameson Williams.
Williams received a pitch behind the line of scrimmage and immediately looked to make a play down field. Williams proceeded to unleash a pass on the run for 25 yards to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, but the ball was thrown short and intercepted by Mike Sainristil.
COMMANDERS PICK OFF JAMESON WILLIAMS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025
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The Commanders proceeded to score a touchdown on their next drive, giving themselves a 17–point lead on the road at Ford Field.
NFL fans couldn't help but question the decision from Ben Johnson to call such a risky play in a dire moment, and, of course, Williams for throwing the pass when he would've been better off tucking it under his arm and fighting for a short gain.
Receiver could have been in Octuple coverage and Jamo still was going to let this one go lol https://t.co/o1Jv0gLAje
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 19, 2025
Jameson Williams should know not to throw this. This is insane. pic.twitter.com/tzdhyk0UjE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 19, 2025
Jameson Williams throwing a pass with the Lions season on the line pic.twitter.com/BJztBpMaef
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) January 19, 2025
Sorry, but Jameson Williams isn't throwing the ball with my season on the line, brother. Zero chance. That is one of the dumbest calls I've ever seen.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 19, 2025
Glad Ben Johnson had that endless trick play bag that everyone swore to me he had, when I naively wondered why he’d run so many great ones in blowouts.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 19, 2025
Turns out, the “reverse into WR pass” was saved just for this moment… to end the Lions season.
Ben Johnson misread his "up to by 10" play calls.
— Wildes (@kevinwildes) January 19, 2025
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Jameson Williams' Costly Interception on Lions Trick Play Had Fans Scratching Their Heads.
