DETROIT (93.7 The Fan) – It is one of the most amazing catches you will see and it wasn’t originally ruled a catch.
With just 10 seconds left and the Steelers at the Lions 45-yard line, Rodgers took a chance down the right sideline to Kenneth Gainwell. The Steelers running back was knocked down by linebacker Jack Campbell (pass interference called), but as he was falling, Gainwell was able to get his arm under the pass and on his side and back, complete the catch. He wasn’t touched, got up and run into the end zone.
"Aaron called a play and he told me just go out and run a go ball," Gainwell said. "It takes unbelievable concentration to catch a ball like that. I kind of lost it for a minute in the light, Last second it came to me, just put my hand to the ground.
"I don't know how I caught it. Never give up on a play, just go score."
"The Kenny play changed the whole complexity and direction of the game," Rodgers said. "You never know what that play is going to be to get things rolling. That was the play that turned the tide for us on offense."
The officials ruled incomplete and then huddled as Gainwell pleaded his case. After 20-30 seconds, the officials, with the help of replay, ruled it wasn’t only a completed catch, but a touchdown as the Steelers tied the game after the Chris Boswell extra point at halftime, 10-10.
"To catch it and somehow get his hand under the ball and to get up and score, it was incredible," Rodgers said.
"That Kenneth Gainwell touchdown really jolted us," said Steelers captain Cam Heyward.
“It was huge," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "We knew that was a matchup that we wanted. He is deserving of all the credit. What an incredible play.”
It was a drive of 11-plays, 80 yards in 1:57 that changed the feeling of the first half
The Lions had just scored the first touchdown of the game and Ford Field was loud. It looked as though Detroit would get the ball several times, but the Steelers converted a pair of 3rd and 10s and a 3rd and 11.
Rodgers finished the first half 14-24 for 141 yards compared to 15-20 for 162 yards for Jared Goff. The teams rushed for a combined 50 yards (just 18 on 11 carries for the Lions).