GLENDALE, Ariz. — It's not often that the two-minute warning is a source of controversy in a football game, but that was not the case in the second quarter of the game between the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday.
As the two-minute warning approached, the Lions lined up to run a play. The ball was snapped, and the Lions quarterback Jared Goff appeared to throw an interception to Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., who took the interception back to the endzone for what looked like a Cardinals touchdown.
However, the play got called back as the referees said the clock hit two minutes before the ball was snapped, meaning the two-minute warning was triggered and the play never happened
That's where the controversy begins. The FOX broadcast showed a replay that showed the ball was snapped with 2:01 on the clock, which means the play should have counted.
Here's how FOX's rules analyst Dean Blandino explained the situation.
"It was really close. The key is the officials killed it, so there's nothing we can do in replay after the fact," Blandino said. "It did look like on our scorebug that the clock may have just hit zero prior to that snap moving. That is synced with the scoreboard clock. You watch it here, it's so close. They did kill it and we can't go back in replay and basically allow the play to go off."
What made this worse for the Cardinals was that the Lions responded by scoring a touchdown on a hook-and-lateral play, meaning this led to a 14-point swing in the game.
Social media goes off after Cardinals pick six gets called back
Understandably, the reaction on social media to the apparent timing mistake by the referees led to a lot of angry reactions from the Cardinals and the Bird Gang on social media.
The Cardinals just posted a dizzy face emoji, showing their confusion.
PHNX Sports' Johnny Venerable just said "OMG @REFS."
Even former Detroit Lion Herman Moore agreed that the play should have resulted in a touchdown the Cardinals.
One fan said the Cardinals got "robbed."
Another fan agreed with that take.
Another fan was even more upset, saying the Cardinals got "HOSED."
One member of the Bird Gang said the NFL needs to allow this play to be reviewed.
What are your thoughts on the play? Let us know by posting your thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter and tag us (@12News, @12SportsAZ, @CamCox12, @LWashingtonTV and/or @J_Vinton52) or text your thoughts to us at (602) 444-1212.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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