Catching a big break: It sure looked like a TD
Initially, Zack Bowman lobbied for offensive pass interference.
"I was in great position," said the Bears cornerback. "I jumped. Felt him push me in the back, which kind of pushed me forward.
"Of course, he's a big-time receiver. They're not going to give me that call. It is what it is."
Actually, it wasn't what it was - or at least what it appeared to be.
The Fox Sports viewing audience and the 59,281 fans at Soldier Field saw a 25-yard Calvin Johnson touchdown catch with 24 seconds left Sunday afternoon.
Johnson, after resting his left hand on Bowman's shoulder pad to collect himself before a leap, rose over Bowman and clasped Shaun Hill's lob ball with two huge hands.
The fact that, after he fell to the ground, Johnson slammed the ball on the grass and let it squirt free seemed incidental in the moment as side judge Mike Weatherford signaled a score.
"Touchdown, Calvin Johnson!" screamed Fox play-by-play man Thom Brennaman. "Unbelievable throw by Hill! And a miraculous catch, leaping high over Bowman, by Calvin Johnson!
"And the Lions, who had won ... now they say wait a minute! Are now they overruling it and saying he did not get it inbounds?"
During a video review that left everyone in limbo for at least five minutes, linebacker Lance Briggs said his stomach "made a turn."
"I hate stuff like that," Briggs said. "It reminded me of the Green Bay game last year. You know, you play great defense all game and then you give up one big play."
Bowman expected the worst.
"I don't know the rules," Bowman said. "I saw two feet in and a couple steps (after that)."
But when referee Gene Steratore finally returned to the field, he upheld the original ruling of an incomplete pass. He explained the decision to a pool reporter.
"We don't play with the (usual) two feet or one knee or anything of that scenario," Steratore said. "We're talking now about the process of the catch. He's catching the football, as he goes to the ground, he must maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process...the process was not finished until he finished that roll and the entire process of that catch."
Despite the ruling, the Lions still had 24 seconds and two more downs to win. The Bears took advantage of their second chance by changing their coverage.
They played "Cover 3" on the overruled touchdown catch, which explains why safety Danieal Manning (responsible for the middle third of the field) couldn't get over to help Bowman.
But on the last two jump balls to Johnson in the end zone, the Bears had safety help over the top.
That's why there were two defenders there to knock the ball away on each of the last two plays.