Detroit Lions notes: Two seconds added to clock per Jim Caldwell’s request

Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith (22) after making a reception during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) is sacked by Detroit Lions defensive end Kerry Hyder, left, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: November 7, 2016 at 1:23 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:40 a.m.

ALLEN PARK >> Jim Caldwell may have preserved the chance for the win on Sunday by watching the clock closely.

The Lions coach called a time-out with 1:14 left in the game. But by the time it registered on the game clock three seconds had been eaten away. In these situations, every second is valuable.

An animated Caldwell talked to the officials on the sideline. They agreed to add two seconds back on the clock.

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“It’s not an unusual conversation. Typically when you call a time-out, by the time they get it relayed to get it done sometimes a couple seconds will elapse and usually you just tell them, ‘Hey this is what I saw, I think we had a few more.’ Oftentimes they may not give you any back, but they were able to give us two back which was good,” Caldwell said on Monday.

Those two seconds could have been the difference between winning and losing.

The Lions got the ball with just 23 seconds left and a field goal needed to tie the game.

When Matt Prater kicked the 58-yard field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime, there were exactly two seconds left. In overtime, Matthew Stafford led an 87-yard touchdown drive to win the game, 22-16.

Ebron trends up

Tight end Eric Ebron had a solid game for the second straight Sunday after missing three games with an ankle injury. He looks almost like a different tight end, although he still had one drop on Sunday.

“He’s playing well. He’s catching the ball well. He’s running like we know he can run. He’s making plays, but I just think he’s on that kind of progression where you see guys just improve,” Caldwell said. “Each and every year he improved from his first year to his second year. Went from 25, to 48 catches I think and then obviously I think I mentioned to you we anticipate that he’s going to take the same sort of step forward this year. And I think up to this point he’s headed in that direction. He hasn’t arrived yet, but he’s playing well.”

He set a career single-game high with 92 receiving yards and tied a career single-game high with 7 receptions. Ebron now has five or more receptions in four of his six games played this season.

Ebron’s longest catch of the game proved crucial in overtime with he grabbed a 23-yarder on third-and- 3 at the Lions’ own 20-yard line that gave Detroit a first down to start the drive and moved the ball to the 43-yard line.

Prater excites Caldwell

It’s Jim Caldwell’s way to remain stoic on the sidelines on game day.

But when Matt Prater kicked the 58-yard field goal to send the game to overtime, Caldwell actually fist-pumped and displayed his excitement.

“That’s not the first time I’ve done it. I’ve probably done it every single time we’ve won a game here to some extent,” Caldwell said. “It’s a pretty exciting time, right? I am human, too.”

Prater’s kick marked the second-longest game-tying field goal in the final minute of the fourth quarter in NFL history. Prater also holds the record for the longest such field goal – 59 yards on Dec. 11, 2011, with Denver against Chicago.

In his career, Prater is now an amazing 23 of 23 on game-tying or go-ahead field-goal attempts in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Time to rest

The Lions have the rest of the week off leading up to the bye on Sunday.

“We’ve been at it for quite some time. This team has battled through a bunch of adversity and a bunch of injuries, and things of that nature. Rest for us is extremely important to kind of get healed up, to see if we can get a few guys back,” Caldwell said.

He said rest is the No. 1 focu.

“But, we still have to certainly keep our bodies and mind sharp and those kinds of things. Stay in the kind of conditioning that we hold, but a rest is going to be the emphasis this particular week,” the coach added.