The NFL has confirmed that Frankie Luvu delivered a cheap shot on Jared Goff during a pick-six by the Washington Commanders in their NFC divisional playoff game against the Detroit Lions last Saturday. Luvu was fined $16,883 for hitting Goff in the head while blocking, as Quan Martin ran the interception back for a touchdown in the second quarter. No penalty flag was thrown, which allowed the Commanders to keep the touchdown, though a 15-yard penalty would have negated it and placed the ball at the Lions’ 22-yard line. Goff was later checked for a concussion.
Despite the hit, Washington, an underdog by 9½ points, dominated the game, defeating the Lions 45-31 and securing a spot in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Shortly after the pick-six, Luvu made another questionable move, executing an illegal hip-drop tackle on Jahmyr Gibbs, though this also went unpenalized. For this action, Luvu was fined an additional $16,883 for unnecessary roughness, marking his second fine of the game.
Lions receiver Jameson Williams was also fined $25,325 for unsportsmanlike conduct after an obscene gesture during his touchdown run in the second quarter. At that time, Teddy Bridgewater was playing in place of the injured Goff, who was cleared to return to the sidelines. This fine was Williams’ fourth of the season, not including a previous two-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, which cost him $210,270.
The fines highlight a rough playoff game for the Lions, with both players involved in controversial actions. Despite Goff’s injury and the penalties, the Commanders managed to overpower the Lions, ending their season in an upset win.
