Carolina coach Ron Rivera took one of the biggest gambles of his career Sunday, going for a two-point conversion after Carolina scored a late touchdown to pull within 20-19 of Detroit with 1:07 left in the game.
Instead of kicking an extra point — no sure thing, given that placekicker Graham Gano had missed both an extra point and a 34-yard field goal already — Rivera went for two points and the lead.
The gamble failed when quarterback Cam Newton overthrew open wide receiver Jarius Wright — who had broken off his route and found a hole in the middle of the Lions defense — in the end zone.