Fans were furious with the referees after a controversial call resulted in a 20-19 loss for the Detroit Lions against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Lions successfully tricked the Dallas Cowboys in their two-point conversion attempt but they ultimately tricked the Brad Allen-led officiating crew into thinking No. 70, not No. 68, was ruled eligible for the two-point conversion attempt.
Dan Skipper checked into the game as an eligible receiver, and the Lions ran a play-action pass. Goff found left tackle Taylor Decker wide open for the conversion, but he was called for illegal touching after failing to report to the referees as an eligible receiver.
Video shows Decker approach a referee, along with Skipper and Penei Sewell, for a conversation before the play, but the referees never acknowledged him as an eligible receiver.
Refs said No. 70 Dan Skipper declared, but not No. 68 Taylor Decker. After the game, both players spoke on the flag that cost them a road win.
Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Decker, and Skipper all say Decker reported as eligible. It appears the ref may have confused which player declared.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Fans online called out the Lions for trying to be cute and trick the Cowboys, which they did, but they also tricked the refs.
Referee Brad Allen spoke to reporters after the game and stood by the call, saying Skipper did report as eligible.
Allen: “So, we had a situation where if you were going to have an ineligible number occupy an eligible position, you have to report that to the referee. On this particular play, number 70, who had reported during the game a couple of times, reported to me as eligible. Then he lined up at the tackle position. So, actually, he didn’t have to report at all. Number 68, who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul. So, the issue is, number 70 did report, number 68 did not.”
With the loss, the Lions’ shot at the No. 1 overall seed is a pretty big longshot, and even earning the second seed feels extremely unlikely.
