Mark Butterworth, the NFL's vice president of instant replay, explained a controversial replay ruling that wiped away an apparent Saints defensive touchdown during the Detroit Lions' eventual 31-30 overtime win over New Orleans on Sunday.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff was pressured and hit by Saints EDGE Chase Young early in the second quarter. As Young hit Goff, the football was knocked backwards out of Goff's hand. Saints safety Jonas Sanker picked up the football and raced in for what looked like a New Orleans touchdown.
But, upon replay review, it was ruled an incomplete pass.
Fortunate sequence here wipes what initially appeared to be a Saints defensive TD off the board. pic.twitter.com/x7VsdUUFDI
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) September 13, 2026
Butterworth was asked by MLive and PFWA pool
reporter Ben Raven after Sunday's game if the intent of Goff's throwing motion overrode the football's eventual direction.
Here's what Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth said of the Lions-Saints replay on Sunday: pic.twitter.com/ldgPhH7NmG
— The Lions Wire (@thelionswire) September 14, 2026
"If the defender contacts the passer prior to the passer starting his throwing motion, then it can be ruled as a backward pass. Because Goff already started his throwing motion and then the defender contacted him, it is therefore a forward pass," Butterworth said.
Raven then asked what is the determining factor in calling this play?
"The determining factor is does the passer begin his throwing motion prior to contact from the defender. The throwing motion starts as he begins to bring the ball up as a part of his windup and then the defender's contact made the pass go backwards," Butterworth said.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL officials explain Lions-Saints replay ruling in pool report
