Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) cheers for teammates as they get ready to take the field for warm up at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.

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The Detroit Lions appeared to dial up a perfect, 1-yard trick play to score a touchdown on the opening drive of their "Sunday Night Football" game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

On fourth-and-goal, Lions quarterback Jared Goff motioned out from under center, putting the Lions into a Wildcat formation. Running back David Montgomery took the direct snap and quickly tossed it outside to Goff.

Goff briefly bobbled the throw, but he managed to catch it on his second effort and plowed into the end zone for what looked like a score.

However, the play was correctly nullified by an illegal motion penalty.

What happened? The officials ruled, after discussion, that Goff had failed to pause after motioning out from under center. He simply immediately ran out toward the flat, which is, by rule, an illegal motion penalty, as NBC's rules analyst Terry McAulay explained on the game broadcast.

"He takes a position behind the center. He's got to step back and pause for a second and establish as a back before he goes in motion," McAulay explained. "He didn't. He stayed in motion."

McAulay's analysis referenced Rule 7, Section 4, Article 2, Item 3 of the NFL's official rulebook.

"It is legal for a T-Formation Quarterback to go in motion, whether he has placed his hands under center, on his knees, or on the body of the center," the rulebook states. "However, it is a false start if the action is quick and abrupt. If the player fails to come to a complete stop for at least one full second prior to the ball being snapped, it is illegal motion."

So, it appears the officials got this one right on "Sunday Night Football."

And while the Lions failed to get a touchdown, they still got on the board following the penalty. Jake Bates made a 28-yard field goal to give Detroit an early 3-0 lead.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Jared Goff's fourth-down TD catch vs. Chiefs was nullified by a penalty

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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