Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

Detroit Lions’ favorite trick play completely fooled the Cowboys again

The Lions scored on the exact same trick play that worked last year

Ricky O'Donnell
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.

The Detroit Lions look like a heavy favorite in the NFC to start the 2024 season. The Dallas Cowboys always look like a contender in October, but we all know how that story usually ends. Their Week 6 matchup was a measuring stick game for both teams, and Detroit brought out its best plays to show who really runs the conference.

David Montgomery’s epic stiff arm helped the Lions get the scoring started in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson called a trick play we’ve seen from him before: the reverse into a flea flicker. This exact play produced a touchdown almost one year ago to the day when the Lions’ pulled it off against the Carolina Panthers last season.

Guess what? It happened again. The Cowboys defense was lulled to sleep by Detroit’s reverse, and it once again left Sam LaPorta wide open once QB Jared Goff got the pitch back for the flea flicker. This is beautiful.

Johnson is regarded as one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL, and someone who will draw serious head coaching interest until he decides to take a job. This play is a work of art, and opponents should suspect it could be coming now that it’s all over the tape.

LaPorta also caught the TD pass when the Lions ran this play last season:

The Lions’ offense is phenomenal. Detroit has a great offensive line, a bad-ass running game, a star wide receiver in Amon St. Brown, and a capable QB in Goff. Having a genius like Johnson calling in plays certainly doesn’t hurt either.

The Lions are the kings of the trick play. This is the third time this season they’ve scored on one:

The NFC should run through Detroit this season until further notice.

See More:

More in NFL

NFL
Kyle Shanahan’s car accident has transformed into the NFL’s biggest mysteryKyle Shanahan’s car accident has transformed into the NFL’s biggest mystery
NFL

A routine traffic accident has become something entirely surreal.

By James Dator
NFL
Aaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf take part in training camp toilet pactAaron Rodgers and D.K. Metcalf take part in training camp toilet pact
NFL

If it’s yellow, let it mellow.

By James Dator
NFL
Bills release alternate uniforms so ugly that even die-hard Bills fans hate themBills release alternate uniforms so ugly that even die-hard Bills fans hate them
NFL
The Panthers had a nightmare opening to training campThe Panthers had a nightmare opening to training camp
NFL

A lot went wrong in a short period of time.

By James Dator
NFLFromBaltimore Beatdown
Critics keep moving the goalposts on Lamar JacksonCritics keep moving the goalposts on Lamar Jackson
NFLFromBaltimore Beatdown
By Femi Ayanbadejo
NFL
61 NFL predictions ahead of the 2026 season61 NFL predictions ahead of the 2026 season
NFL

From Week 1 to the Super Bowl and beyond, we give a comprehensive layout of what the 2026 season will look like.

By Jarrett Bailey

Comments
Loading comments
Getting the conversation ready...