Short answer
The Miracle in Motown was the end of Packers–Lions on a Thursday night in December 2015: Green Bay down 23–21, 23 seconds left, ball at its own 21, no timeouts. A field goal wins it, but it's 79 yards to the end zone. You call every snap, and your calls are graded against Mike McCarthy's, which score in the 99th percentile in our engine.
The situation
Week 13, December 3, 2015, a Thursday night game in Detroit. The Lions led 20–0 in the second quarter, and Green Bay clawed back to 23–21. Detroit just punted.
Aaron Rodgers has the ball at his own 21 with 0:23 left and no timeouts. Detroit has one. Down 2, a field goal wins it, but Mason Crosby needs the ball near midfield or closer, and without timeouts the only clock stoppers are incompletions, the sideline and a spike.
How the real drive went, play by play
Rodgers threw deep right to Randall Cobb: incomplete. He threw deep right to Jared Abbrederis: incomplete. That left 0:06.
On 3rd down Rodgers hit James Jones for 19 yards, and the Packers started lateraling. Jones pitched it back to tight end Richard Rodgers, who lost 16 yards and pitched it to Aaron Rodgers at the Green Bay 24, where he was taken down as the clock hit zero. But Detroit was flagged for a facemask on the play, and a game can't end on an accepted defensive penalty, so Green Bay got one untimed down from its own 39.
Rodgers escaped the rush, rolled out and launched a Hail Mary, and Richard Rodgers went up for it and caught it in the end zone. Green Bay won 27–23.
The calls that decided it
With 79 yards and 23 seconds, you have maybe four plays. Green Bay threw deep on each of the first two instead of working the sideline. One deep completion gets you to field-goal range in one snap; short sideline throws keep the clock in check but need three or four completions in a row.
Neither deep throw connected, and that left the laterals and the penalty. In our game, the untimed down after a defensive foul at 0:00 is part of the rules, but the facemask isn't scripted. Your calls have to earn the chance.
More Legends
- 28–3 · Super Bowl LI, down 8, 3:30 left, own 9
- The Minneapolis Miracle · NFC Divisional round, down 1, 0:25 left, own 20
- 13 Seconds · AFC Divisional round, down 3, 0:13 left, own 25
- Every Legend and Playoff Run
FAQ
What was the score of the Miracle in Motown game?
Green Bay beat Detroit 27–23 on December 3, 2015, in Week 13.
Who caught the Miracle in Motown Hail Mary?
Tight end Richard Rodgers, from Aaron Rodgers, for a 61-yard touchdown.
Why did the Packers get another play after time ran out?
Detroit was called for a facemask on the lateral play that ended regulation. A game can't end on an accepted defensive penalty, so Green Bay got one untimed down from its own 39.
Do I need to pay to play this?
This Legend is part of the Legends Pass, a one-time purchase that also unlocks every Playoff Run and removes ads. The daily drive, Practice and Survivor stay free, and 28–3 is a free Legend you can try first.
Sources
- nflverse play-by-play data — the real drive, snap by snap: down, distance, clock, timeouts and play descriptions
- Green Bay at Detroit, Week 13 2015 box score — Pro Football Reference