Officials rule Detroit Lions pass attempt incomplete following Jared Goff hit

During the second quarter of the Week 1 game between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints, officials overturned a potential defensive touchdown. Lions quarterback Jared Goff was hit while beginning a throwing motion, causing the ball to come loose. Jonas Sanker recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone, but referees ruled the play an incomplete forward pass rather than a fumble. FOX rules expert Mike Pereira stated that because Goff had initiated his throwing motion, the intent to pass forward superseded the ball's backward movement. The decision negated the touchdown while the Lions held a 7-0 lead. The game entered halftime with the score impact of this ruling remaining a central point of discussion.

• 6:40 PMYahoo Sports — Referees’ bad call turns Saints defensive TD into Jared Goff incompletion