Washington’s pick-6 against the Lions on Saturday night perhaps should have been called differently.
Quan Martin intercepted Jared Goff and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 5:25 left in the second quarter of the divisional playoff game at Ford Field in Detroit.
On the return, Goff was knocked to the ground by Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu, whose helmet struck the lower part of Goff’s facemask.
No penalty was called, but FOX’s officiating expert Mike Pereira thought there should have been.
“After the interception, during the entire play, the quarterback is considered defenseless,” Pereira said on the TV broadcast. “You can block him if he pursues the play, but you can’t hit him in the head or neck area, which Luvu did. So this should have been called, which would have resulted — with the ball still alive — in a 15-yard penalty from the 5-yard line.”
With no flag, the ensuing extra point gave the Commanders a 24-14 lead over the top-seeded Lions as Goff was examined in the sideline medical tent.
Teddy Bridgewater replaced Goff at quarterback. After a Jahmyr Gibbs run and a short completion, Jameson Williams took a reverse 61 yards for a touchdown.
Washington answered with another touchdown to make it 31-21, after which Goff returned to the field. That Detroit drive ended with Goff getting intercepted again.
