FOX NFL rules analyst and former NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino has offered an interesting explanation for the controversial “ineligible man” penalty at the end of Saturday’s contest between the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown reception with 23 seconds left cut Detroit’s deficit to one point. Dan Campbell called for the Lions to attempt a two-point conversion that appeared to be successful when Goff threw a successful try to offensive tackle Taylor Decker.
However, Decker was penalized for being an ineligible man downfield, having apparently failed to report to the officials. Goff’s last two-point attempt was an incomplete pass to James Mitchell, allowing the Cowboys to squeak out a 20-19 victory.
Speaking with Peter Schrager in Sunday’s edition of “NFL on FOX”, Blandino explained that responsibility falls on Decker for failing to report. Blandino accused Detroit of trying “to disguise” who was eligible when Decker, Penei Sewell and Dan Skipper all went to the officials before the play:
The Lions will wrap up their regular season with a home tilt against the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
