Five minutes into the Detroit Lions Week 3 game with the Baltimore Ravens, the Lions attempted a trick play. The result was an ugly botched halfback throw that fortunately resulted in an incompletion.
Live, the play looked disastrous. But the All-22 shows the play actually was drawn up with clever intentions, just executed poorly.
Let’s set the table.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter, a Jamaal Williams first down run sets the Lions up in a second-and-6 from the Lions logo at midfield. This is an ideal spot for a trick play because of the down and distance, placement on the field, and it’s early enough in the game to catch the Ravens’ defense off guard.