Calvin Johnson jumped up and started sprinting in celebration.

They had just connected on what they thought was the go-ahead touchdown, the pass that would finally give the Detroit Lions a road win after three years.

Not so fast.

“The first thing that went through my head was that we finally won in Chicago,” Johnson said. “I found out after I sprinted halfway across the field that it didn’t count. It is what it is, and now it’s over.”

Matthew Stafford injured a shoulder at the end of the first half, but the Lions were still in position to pull this one out even after they fell behind late in the game. For a few moments, it looked as if they had done just that.

The Lions had second-and-10 at the 25 with 31 seconds left when Johnson outjumped Chicago’s Zackary Bowman in the end zone for an apparent touchdown. Johnson appeared to have gotten both feet down inbound and rolled over before letting the ball go, but a potential winner was ruled an incomplete pass,

“The ruling is that in order for the catch to be completed he has got to maintain possession of the ball throughout the entire process of the catch,” said referee Gene Steratore.

The call “shocked” Johnson. Asked about his understanding of the rule, he said, “I understand now.”

–yahoo sports