Jim Caldwell successfully lobbied for 2 extra seconds and it saved the Lions

With 17 seconds left in regulation, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Andre Roberts on a 27-yard pass play that ended with just 10 seconds remaining. The Lions hurried down the field and managed to spike the ball with two seconds left, setting up a 58-yard field goal from Matt Prater that sent the game to overtime.

But if it wasn’t for Jim Caldwell, those two seconds may not have existed and the Lions wouldn’t have had time for that final kick.

On the previous drive, the Minnesota Vikings converted a fourth down inside the red zone that gave them a first down. Stefon Diggs went down and Caldwell — realizing that time was more important to his team than the Vikings who were 3 yards from the lead — immediately called timeout.

But Diggs went down with 1:13 on the clock and it ran two more seconds to 1:11 before finally freezing.

The FOX broadcast showed a quick highlights package and zoomed in Vikings kicker Blair Walsh, who struggled earlier in the game. Then, the broadcast showed the teams begin to huddle up and the clock, without explanation, switched to 1:13.

During the timeout, Caldwell lobbied the officials for the two extra seconds and Ed Hochuli made a quick announcement to the clock operator, but it wasn’t shown on the broadcast and even players on the field didn’t notice.

Roberts — the receiver who set up the game-tying field goal — had no idea about the clock change until Sports Illustrated’s Peter King told him after the game.

“Hey, luckily we got those two seconds,” Roberts told King. “If we didn’t, who knows? Maybe we run a different play at the end. I don’t know.”

Thanks to heads-up coaching by Caldwell, the Lions offense didn’t have to worry about that and did just enough to send the game to overtime where Stafford connected with Golden Tate for a 28-yard, butt-first touchdown to win it.