“Absolutely ridiculous,” “Rigged for Chiefs”: NFL fans tear into referees for overturning Lions TD with illegal shift call on Jared Goff

Jared Goff almost did it again on Sunday, but certain circumstances conspired to take it away from him. And fans were not happy with it.

During the opening drive of the game at the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions quarterback appeared to catch a touchdown pass from running back David Montgomery, only for it to be cancelled after he was ruled to have made an illegal motion. However, plays supposedly involving that kind of penalty are non-reviewable:

THIS IS WEIRD.

THE REFS ORIGINALLY CALLED THIS PLAY TOUCHDOWN. HUDDLED, AND THEN DECIDED TO CALL THIS AN ILLEGAL MOTION ON THE #LIONS.

Illegal motion is a non-reviewable play and the refs were not allowed to use replay or NY.

Have never seen this before.pic.twitter.com/OzIbX7RBBf

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 13, 2025

And fans did not take long before attacking the referees:

“Hey @NFL @SNFonNBC we all know you don’t like it when your Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes lose,” one called out.
“Refs to the rescue for the Chiefs. Shocking,” another sighed.
“There’s always something weird going on with the refs in chiefs games…,” another analyzed.

The Lions were forced to settle for a field goal to end the drive after another penalty, this time for delay of game. Patrick Mahomes found Xavier Worthy for a touchdown for the other completed play of the first quarter.

Back in the 2024 season, Jared Goff caught this score from wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown during the third quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks:

Jared GO-OFF#SEAvsDET | 📺 ABC/ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/U0zwvFn75D

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 1, 2024

That career-first was part of a perfect game that saw him complete all 18 of his attempts, including two touchdowns. The Lions also won the game 42-29.

During his post-game interview. St Brown joked:

“I’m the third quarterback if something happens to Jared [Goff] and Hendon Hooker….I could throw a little bit.”
Goff himself revealed its name: “Alcatraz” – something that then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson came up with, seemingly on a whim. He commented on it as follows:

Goff himself revealed its name: “Alcatraz” – something that then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson came up with, seemingly on a whim. He commented on it as follows:

“We have these plays in the gameplan a lot, and they don’t always just come up. It has to be the right scenario for them… When they get called, you get a little excited in the huddle, but you’ve got to get the right look for it, and we did. So, yeah, it’s fun.”

Meanwhile, head coach Dan Campbell praised all parties involved:

“It was a heck of a play down in the red zone on the catch, good throw by (St.Brown), had been working that.”
The Lions would finish that season with a franchise-best 15-2 record, but lost to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.