Saskatchewan Roughriders Lose Playoff Game When Pass Hits Crossbar

A CFL team lost a playoff game when a last-second pass hit the uprights.

Here is a heartbreaking way to lose a football game that can only happen in Canada. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders lost the CFL Western Conference Final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when a pass from quarterback Cody Fajardo in the closing seconds clanged off the crossbar. 

It's one of those weird things that can happen in Canadian football, like a team winning a game with a touchdown on the same play where they missed a game-winning field goal attempt. 

#FortheW!!!! The #Bombers are headed to the 107th #GreyCup pres. by @Shaw_CFL pic.twitter.com/GisxHHPGsd

— CFL (@CFL) November 18, 2019

Because the uprights are in the front of the end zone in the CFL, the league has a rule for exactly this kind of situation. Any pass that hits the goal posts is immediately ruled a dead ball, so even if someone in green had caught the ball it wouldn't have been a touchdown. 

Fajardo got unlucky on that play but he got insanely lucky on a play earlier in the drive. On a third-and-10 (remember, in Canadian football you only get three downs), Fajardo was nearly intercepted by Winnipeg's Marcus Sayles. Riders receiver Kyran Moore somehow managed to haul in the deflected pass and land in bounds, keeping the drive alive. 

Can you believe this play!?!?!?!?!@Shaw_CFL #RoadtotheGreyCup #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/vu8deYrUiF

— CFL (@CFL) November 18, 2019

Winnipeg advanced to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 107th Grey Cup, which will be played on Sunday in Calgary.