Ben Johnson has been a wizard when it comes to creative plays, but another member of the Lions coaching staff may have been responsible for a gimmick play that paid off in the playoff game Detroit division against the Commanders on Saturday night.
Trailing by 10 points in the second half, the Lions executed a “shovel toss” that led to a 20-yard gain by wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, whom Tom Brady had moments earlier compared to former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Ironically, Ward’s former teammate, Lions wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, was the target of a similar play 20 years earlier.
Here’s a look at both games, with Randle El’s catch coming during Pittsburgh’s win over the New York Giants late in the 2004 season.
A year later, Randle El was part of one of the most famous trick games in Super Bowl history when he threw the decisive touchdown pass to Ward in Super Bowl XL, which was played in Detroit.
A play like that is one of the reasons the Lions offense has been so good under Johnson, who should land one of the of the NFL current head coaching positions.
