'No respect': Lions' C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls out Chiefs for fourth-down call

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Andy Reid decided to throw away the book in crunch time and go for it.

On fourth-and-25, with three timeouts in his pocket, the Kansas City Chiefs coach opted not to punt despite being positioned on his own 30-yard line. Instead, Reid gave Patrick Mahomes another crack at the Detroit Lions' defense.

Somebody seemed mighty insulted by that decision.

“No respect,” Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson told USA TODAY Sports amid a festive visitor’s locker room after the stunning 21-20 victory. “You’re going for it on fourth-and-20, you’ve got no respect for us.

“That’s not going against the players, it’s the coordinator not thinking we’re going to be prepared in the situation. I just thank A.G. (Aaron Glenn, Detroit’s defensive coordinator) for putting us in the right situation to win the game.”

Win they did. Mahomes’ desperate heave to Justin Watson on fourth down was broken up. The Lions then rushed three times for a first down, forcing Reid to burn his timeouts. And the game ended with Detroit quarterback Jared Goff taking a knee.

“It’s different,” Gardner-Johnson added of Reid’s controversial game-management.

He also understood the X-factor provided by Mahomes, the reigning NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

“But that’s what we want,” Gardner-Johnson said. “In situations like that, they’re misread. Because fourth-and-20 can easily get converted by a guy like that.”

Just not this time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lions' C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls out Chiefs for fourth-down call