Saints DE Chase Young takes firm stance reflecting on controversial ruling against his big play vs. Lions
New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young nearly made what could’ve been a game-deciding play in the season-opener. Now, he’s moving on to the next one.
New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young strip-sacked Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Safety Jonas Sanker picked up the ball, which ended up 16 yards behind Goff, and waltzed in for a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter.
It all happened, until the referees announced none of that happened at all.
The ruling after further review was Goff threw a forward pass (that went backwards) and since his intent was to throw forward, it was ruled accordingly.
It makes about as much sense as you want it to make. Young, the guy responsible for the seemingly obvious turnover, has every reason to say his peace about the ruling. He’s taking a more productive approach.
Chase Young ready to move on after overturned strip-sack
Young didn’t have many words to offer about the play Sunday afternoon following New Orleans’ overtime loss in Detroit. A day later, he has even fewer.
The 27-year-old believes he made the play we all thought was made, but nonetheless, is ready to move forward.
“Initially I thought I got the ball out,” Young said to reporters Monday. “They looked at it, I guess the forward motion, just gotta go back and look at the rule I guess.
“24 hour rule. It’s over with.”
Young has made his peace with the outcome. The play was one of his two pressures on the day, and the Saints only sacked Goff officially once. There was still more than half of the game remaining when the call was overturned in the Lions’ favor.
Young’s near-strip-sack didn’t directly decide the game, but it’s hard to look past what could’ve been.
Ramifications of a single call
The Saints were struggling to put up points to start the season. They entered the visiting locker room at halftime with zero points on the board, punting away their first four possessions on offense.
Finding a spark with a defensive touchdown, could’ve changed things a bit earlier in the game for them. Instead, Detroit took a two score lead before Kendre Miller’s eight-yard rushing touchdown became NOLA’s first points of the year.
The Saints would score on four consecutive possessions in the second half and nearly made it five if not for a missed field goal in the final seconds of regulation. Daniel Carlson’s 62-yard attempt wouldn’t have been necessary if there were seven more points on the board from much earlier in the game.
It’s tough to play the what-if game, but a tough hand is what New Orleans was given by a rule. Young himself wasn’t even aware of. He’s moving on all the same, as should every player in the locker room.
