Detroit Lions special teams coordinator John Bonamego has defended the decision by head coach Jim Schwartz to go for a fake field goal in his side's defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Lions had the chance to take a seven-point lead in their clash at Heinz Field in the fourth quarter with a short-yardage field goal, but Schwartz opted to go for the fake to get another set of downs.

However, when the ball was snapped to holder Sam Martin to run for the first down, he was stopped short of the marker and fumbled the ball allowing Pittsburgh to take over, and they would later score to take the lead.

"I think when Jim Schwartz says he doesn't coach scared, he means it," Bonamego told the club's official website.

"I, for one, really respect him for that. We spend hours upon hours in here looking to find that slight edge, wherever it might be.

"You know it's not time invested in vain because we know when we bring him something — as long as it's sound — and we invest practice time and meeting time installing it, then it's got a legitimate shot of getting called in the game."

The Lions are 6-4 in their season following their week 11 defeat.