Did Officials Botch Jared Goff Trick-Play?

Officials explain why Jared Goff's touchdown was flagged for a penalty.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) talks to referees regarding a call during the first half against Kansas City Chiefs | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The general consensus regarding the penalty that cost Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff an early touchdown was there involved a significant amount of confusion.

Goff was called for illegal motion, but the officials needed far too much time to throw a flag, leading many to question if the league called in to assist with the understanding of the rules.

On the television broadcast, rules analyst Terry McCauley quickly informed viewers, "He (Goff) takes a position behind the center. He’s got to step back and pause for a second and establish as a back before he goes in motion. He didn’t. He stayed in motion. This is illegal. This is an illegal formation.”

Referee Craig Wrolstad shared following Sunday Night Football in a pool report that it was determined Goff did not properly reset behind the line of scrimmage and establish himself as a back.

"There were a lot of moving parts on that play. We had a quarterback go up to the line of scrimmage. He paused momentarily in the quarterback position, didn't get under center, but he walked up and stopped like he was the quarterback," Wrolstad explained. "Then, he went in motion, and they threw the ball to him for a touchdown. If the quarterback assumes the position and then goes in motion, he has to then stop for a second before they snap the ball.

"Because he gets out of the view and some of the officials, we had to piece it together as a crew as to whether he stopped initially and then whether he stopped when he went in motion."

Wrolstad explained the crew did not receive any sort of assistance from the league or any league representatives in Kanas City.

"It was determined after a lengthy discussion that he stopped at the quarterback position and then went in motion. But when he does that, he has to stop when he goes into motion."

Former Lions offensive lineman T.J. Lang indicated he found it difficult to believe the officials did not receive any outside assistance.

“You’re never gonna convince me of that," said Lang. "Like how does that operation happen where a minute goes by and then you come up together and say, 'Hey guys do you think he was too close to the center?' If you see it, your job is to call it live and then discuss afterwards. So no, you’re not gonna convince me.”