Seattle Seahawks score rare safety on little-known rule after NFL replay booth is forced to intervene and correct call

NFL replay officials were forced to intervene in Monday night's showdown in Detroit to award Seattle a rare safety.

The Seahawks were handed two points after Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff hit the ground in his own end zone.

But it only came after replay reversed the on-field decision, which had Goff down outside the end zone.

The incident happened late in the fourth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

Detroit held a 42-27 lead and was looking to work the clock to close out the win.

They were backed up near their own end zone when Seattle brought heavy pressure on quarterback Goff.

Goff looked to throw the ball downfield before feeling the heat and realizing he just needed to secure the ball.

But the quarterback was in his own end zone - and had the presence of mind to reach the ball out over the goal line to avoid a safety.

Goff was ruled down at the one-yard line as the clock hit the two-minute warning.

But that's when replay officials took a closer look.

They judged that Goff did reach the ball out over the goal line, but he wasn't down by contact at that point.

When he was touched by a Seahawks defender, the ball had come back into the end zone.

And that meant that the on-field decision was overturned and a safety awarded.

Safeties are quite rare in the NFL with just 17 recorded in the 2023 season.

It didn't help the Seahawks on Monday night as Detroit closed out a thrilling 42-29 victory.

Goff put in a superb performance with 292 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 3-1 record.

He completed all 18 of his pass attempts to record a perfect 155.8 quarterback rating.

Goff was the first quarterback to not have an incomplete pass since Kurt Warner was a perfect 10 for 10 in a game in 2005.

“I just gave the game ball to somebody else, so I feel awful,” Lions coach Dan Campbell laughed.

“I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not know he was perfect.”

I just gave the game ball to somebody else, so I feel awful. I knew he played a heck of a game. I did not know he was perfect.

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell on Jared Goff's perfect game

The quarterback also caught a touchdown pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown on a trick play.

"I think that's my first one, too. Ever," Goff said about his touchdown catch.

"And I'm saying all the way back to 7 years old.

"That play's been in for a long time and we've just never gotten in the right situation for it to get called.

"I think we actually have called it in a game before, and then if it's not the right look I get out of it, but that was the right look."