They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it seems as if Kyle Shanahan liked what he saw from the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
During the highly-anticipated Sunday Night Football matchup between two NFC heavyweights in the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, NFL fans noticed a peculiar similarity on a touchdown from the home team. In the early minutes of the second quarter, the 49ers were looking to add to their 7-0 lead over the Cowboys. On first and 10, Shanahan and the 49ers pulled out some trickery, starting with a handoff from Brock Purdy to Christian McCaffrey, who tossed it to Deebo Samuel before the ball was pitched back to Purdy.
From there, Purdy threw a dime to George Kittle for a silky smooth 38-yard touchdown. Pretty neat stuff!
PURDY TO KITTLE AGAIN ON THE TRICKERY 💯
📺: #DALvsSF on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/gzzkvIRUdj pic.twitter.com/U8WTkL64Ly— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023
However, it took NFL fans no time at all to realize they had seen that play before earlier in the day when the Lions had Jared Goff and Sam LaPorta hook up from nearly the same spot against the Carolina Panthers.
LET. BEN. COOK.#CARvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/V1lHuqYM0J
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023
Here’s a side-by-side video that shows just how similar the two plays are.
Ben Johnson and Kyle Shanahan. Two of the best. Dialing it up for the Iowa TEs in shot play territory. pic.twitter.com/R8J3BrWcAw
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 9, 2023
Shanahan will definitely be crediting Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson with the assist on that one in postgame press conferences. Even better? Both trick plays went for touchdowns after their respective quarterbacks got all of the ball and then some to their reliable tight ends.
Here’s how NFL fans reacted to the 49ers copycat version of the Lions’ trick play pulled off hours earlier.
looks familiar😉 https://t.co/jUkT2HH69f
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 9, 2023
Imitation is the highest form of flattery https://t.co/3UuvAoAbxr
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) October 9, 2023
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) October 9, 2023
Okay so the 49ers and Lions are just running the same plays now 🤣 https://t.co/ldmS2UgH4b
— Chanel Porter (@chanelcporter) October 9, 2023
they saw the lions do this at 1pm and said "hell yeah we can do this too" https://t.co/yd9AQhHdJw
— Reb (@Rebski_) October 9, 2023
Kyle Shanahan ripping off Ben Johnson from earlier today? https://t.co/xVv1vSeOEp
— Tobi Altizer (@Tobi_Altizer) October 9, 2023
Lions fans watching #SNF — same exact play to Laporta 😂 https://t.co/JX40uf3U6C pic.twitter.com/ShJp09TSPb
— Nate P (@NatePfromGV) October 9, 2023
did kyle shanahan take this directly from the lions in the noon window?!? https://t.co/nAwI9HXvx7
— Ron Mexico (@m_gallagher18) October 9, 2023
showed up to the party wearing the same outfit and neither one willing to change. https://t.co/EYnNC5EhI5
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) October 9, 2023
This is great https://t.co/34b9mOfoUM
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) October 9, 2023
