Throughout this week, we are going to go through the 10 plays (with some liberties for moments) that shaped the 2015 season for the Detroit Lions.
See the complete list as it is unveiled here.
The play: Aaron Rodgers had one last chance to beat the Lions. The Packers were given an untimed extra play after a Devin Taylor face mask was called on the final play of regulation with the Lions up, 23-21, and poised to sweep the Packers for the first time since 1991. Rodgers evaded a rush and threw the ball 61 yards to a somewhat open Richard Rodgers in the end zone for a Hail Mary touchdown on the final play of the game and a 27-23 Green Bay win over Detroit.
The situation: There was so much failure on this play, broken down here, starting with the personnel employed. Calvin Johnson and Eric Ebron weren’t on the field to defend the Hail Mary at the goal line. Ezekiel Ansah was 20 yards off the ball despite being one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL. After the game, Lions coach Jim Caldwell said the team played for laterals instead of a Hail Mary -- this despite the Packers’ lateral play failing horribly the play before.
The reason it mattered: It ended a three-game Lions win streak, ensured the franchise would not have back-to-back winning seasons and essentially eliminated any playoff hopes the team had. The failed play led to renewed questions about Jim Caldwell’s job security (a job he ended up keeping) and once again invited scrutiny over his late-game coaching judgment. It was a turning point play for both teams. The Packers might not have made the playoffs if not for the Hail Mary. The Lions had no over-.500 teams left the rest of the way and had a shot to make a late-season run. The loss was an absolutely crushing one for the Lions.
Did the Lions learn from it: Arguably, yes. Caldwell wouldn’t acknowledge the difference after the Lions beat New Orleans on Monday Night Football in Week 15, but in another Hail Mary situation against Drew Brees, Johnson was on the field to play defense.
What Jim Caldwell said about the defense on the play: “In that situation, we have a couple different things that we do. That was one where you’re kind of looking for more that pass back-and-forth kind of thing because of the range. He ran around there so long, moved up, gave himself a chance to get into the end zone. We had plenty of guys back there, we had plenty of guys. We just didn’t make the play. They did.”
What tight end Eric Ebron said about the Hail Mary: “It was kind of like a movie, watching the ball in the air. I didn’t know it was going to go that far. That’s Aaron Rodgers, man.”