#Todd Gurley accidental touchdown ends up dooming Falcons

Todd Gurley cost the Falcons their game Sunday against the Lions — by scoring a touchdown.

With just over a minute left in regulation and trailing by two, the Falcons simply needed to run out the clock and record a chip-shot field goal to win the game.

Gurley carried the ball on a handoff and was supposed to go down at the 1-yard line, but momentum carried him into the end zone for a touchdown that gave Atlanta the lead but forced the Falcons to kick it back to the Lions. In an odd scene, Detroit players rose their hands to signal and celebrate Gurley’s second touchdown of the game.

The Lions then had enough time to go down the field, with quarterback Matthew Stafford capping off an eight-play drive with a touchdown pass as time expired. Matt Prater hit the extra point to secure a 23-22 win for Detroit.

The loss drops the Falcons to 1-6, while Detroit improved to 3-3.

The Falcons were the second team to score an accidental touchdown this weekend, as Penn State lost to Indiana on Saturday due to a similar play. Penn State running back Devyn Ford inadvertently scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter when he was supposed to go down at the 1-yard line before Indiana came back the other way for the win.