WATCH: Lions execute fake-fumble trick play, taking inspiration from Packers — both coming against Bears
CHICAGO (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions borrowed from Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers to trick the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
The moment of deceit came in the third quarter of a 34-17 victory, when the Lions faked a fumble and Goff threw a touchdown pass.
Goff intentionally stumbled while dropping back. With Detroit players yelling “Fumble!” and Jahmyr Gibbs pretending to dive for the ball, Goff threw to Sam LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 34-14.
Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson approached Goff on Monday with a slightly different plan. It had the quarterback deliberately fumbling, similar to the classic trick play known as the “fumblerooski.”
We told ya he's an athlete 😉#ProBowlVote | @JaredGoff16 | @samlaporta pic.twitter.com/Fx4NZvBrGE
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 22, 2024
Goff didn’t think he could pull that one off, so they tweaked the idea. After working on the play in practice, they executed it to perfection against the Bears.
“At first, it started on Monday, with Ben asking if (I) thought I could fumble on purpose and pick it back up,” Goff said. “I said I don’t know about that. We kind of got off that pretty quickly and were like, ‘Let’s just pretend we’re falling or pretend I’m fumbling but I’m holding onto the ball.’ I think the part that Gibbs dives really sells the play. I’m only doing half of it.”
Gibbs and Tim Patrick told ESPN that Johnson’s inspiration for the play came from the Packers’ season-opening win at Soldier Field last season. Love found a wide-open Luke Musgrave for a 37-yard pass after fumbling the snap.
Even when the Packers aren't beating the Bears, they are still beating the Bears, this time via Lions OC Ben Johnson, who took this accidental fumbled snap play from Sept 2023 and turned it into a choreographed "stumble bum" that was a TD today. pic.twitter.com/fJQrtC2LQy
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) December 22, 2024
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Green Bay Packers helmets lay on the ground during a practice session at their NFL minicamp Wednesday, June 13, 2018, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)