Division Champion Detroit Lions vs Cowboys Open Thread
December 30th, 2023 at 11:34 PM ^
I didn't get the postgame here - what was said?
December 30th, 2023 at 11:36 PM ^
Pointing out that Decker was clearly speaking with the ref before the play
December 30th, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
Video shows Decker walking up to the ref before the play with one other player, then lining up. Blows away the 'he didnt report' call.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:32 PM ^
I'm having flashbacks to the 2014 playoffs.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:35 PM ^
Yup. Refs sucking off the Cowboys when it matters most - a tradition like no other.
ESECPN going over it over and over.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
Armando Galaraga just had a flashback too. Way to botch the game, ref.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
They didn't botch it. They did exactly what the NFL told them to do.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
At least Joyce did interviews after the incident.
Refs across all sports must to be forced to have interviews post game and answer for their shit
December 30th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
Home cooking. The refs did what they were paid to do
December 30th, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
Take the 3 in the 1st half and you wouldn’t need 2XP to win. That was the biggest mistake, especially in a low scoring game.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:40 PM ^
Assumes the game would have been played the same way it was if he takes the 3. Wrong assumption. 🤔
December 30th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
Maybe the butterfly effect makes it a blowout by the cowboys. But still remains that on the road in a low scoring game, it was 7-3 at half correct, you take whatever points you can get.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:37 PM ^
That ref should be suspended and fined.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
Should be, but he was doing exactly what he was told to do by the league.
December 31st, 2023 at 2:15 AM ^
My take is the opposite. The NFL should make that ref (and crew) call the Detroit v Minnesota game next week in Detroit.
While it won't change the last game, I would love to see that schmuck (he actually double down on his take on X) stand there in front of 60K pissed off fans for 60 minutes....
December 30th, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
Refs and umpires should have to talk to the media just like the players and coaches
December 30th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
They could, if they had guts. Think of the ump that blew the Tigers’ perfect game. He came out and owned it. Not in the NFL.
Not that it matters.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:45 PM ^
Good for that ump, Jim Joyce
It’s the leagues that protect them.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:39 PM ^
Wow decker absolutely reported. The ref will face zero discipline. ridiculous.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
I really have no dog in the fight as I don't really care too much about the Lions and the NFL but it sure seems like the officials constantly find a way to screw them over the years. I mean are these officials even going to be held accountable for appearing to blatantly make shit up in this case? Refs at the NFL and college level really need to start being made to answer media questions. Players and coaches have to publicly answer for mistakes, they should too.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:43 PM ^
They never will be.
They get the results the leagues want from them.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
What is even going on right now? Is it opposite day?
December 30th, 2023 at 11:47 PM ^
So it’s not opposite Day?
December 30th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
Can’t let your emotions get the best of you and go for 2 from the 7 there after the penalty. Really poor coaching decision.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:59 PM ^
They never officially ran a play from the 7. Dallas was offside so it was from the 3-1/2.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:42 PM ^
I should be surprised, but I'm not. I feel like Detroit - and Michigan - get the shit end of calls like this more often than anyone else. The league office might apologize Tuesday, but so fucking what. The Ford family needs to pull their advertising budget until something is done about this kind of bullshit.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:44 PM ^
I always wonder why they allow that giant FORD sign in Dallas's stadium
December 30th, 2023 at 11:43 PM ^
The NFL referees spokesperson will issue a statement saying “Sometimes players are invisible out there. Remember, we didn’t see Dez Bryant run out on the field a few years ago, so we haven’t seen players on both teams in this matchup over the years, and that confirms our impartiality.”
December 30th, 2023 at 11:44 PM ^
Like seriously what the hell could that official even logically claim as an excuse for ignoring a guy standing directly in front of him and reporting?
December 30th, 2023 at 11:45 PM ^
Rules question... Can more than 1 person report?
Campbell confirms that it was a one-track minded decision to go for the win.
December 31st, 2023 at 5:12 AM ^
Read an article which quoted the network's expert on officiating. (The guy served as a referee for 19 years.) He said that Campbell was mistaken, that two people can definitely report as eligible on the same play.
I don't blame Campbell for getting it wrong. At that point, as angry as he had to be, I'm amazed Dan could even form sentences.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:46 PM ^
At least ESPN has the guts to keep replaying this
December 30th, 2023 at 11:48 PM ^
The ESPN rules guy is trying so hard to justify shitty refereeing. SVP still a good dude though.
ESPN gotta protect all 5-6 teams they give a fuck about.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:07 AM ^
Damn, I’m more pissed than the people who purchased a 1-day Pontiac Silverdome Implosion Package.
What a fucked up ending to that game.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:08 AM ^
Kudos to Troy Aikman who called the official out at the end of the game for not recognizing Deckers clear attempt to check in. Really appreciate his honesty commenting on the game as an ex Cowboy in the ring of honor.
Kudos to the Lions tonight. The near safety that became a long touchdown was a big break too besides bad officiating at the end. It's a shame the officials clustered the end of this game. The Lions and Cowboys both know who won the game and who was gifted with bogus result.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:09 AM ^
If you didn't see go watch Goffs interview. He said he knew he'd be fined but he flat out said he told Decker to report and he knows he did.
Also this...
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39075242/nfl-officiating-crew-scrutiny-missed-calls
December 31st, 2023 at 2:22 AM ^
This ref needs to be fired, suspended, fine, flogged, whatever...
Does he really believe this statement he just posted....???
In a pool report, Allen said Skipper reported to him as eligible, but then lined up in a tackle spot that didn't require him to report. Allen said Decker didn't report, and that his conversation with Decker was about Skipper reporting.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:12 AM ^
Double post
December 31st, 2023 at 12:15 AM ^
This reminds me of the Seattle Monday night game when Calvin fumbled at the 1 yd line with seconds left in the game, trying to reach the ball over the goal line for the win. He fumbles, the ball bounces to the back of the EZ and the Seattle LB bats it out of bounds. Game ends. Lions lose in ball busting fashion, like they tend to do.
Then after the game they say that batting the ball out is illegal but the refs didn't know the rule and did not call it. TOO BAD. Lions lose anyway. Ref incompetence cannot be reversed.