Lions Lose in Dallas on Botched Call
Putting up a new thread and sharing the base information because a previous thread needed to be taken down.
Last night the NFL franchise with twice as many flagrantly controversial calls against them as the rest of the league combined picked up another that profoundly changes the Playoff picture.
Long versions of the events are available all over the internet. The short version is the Lions went for two after closing to within 1 point with a 2-minute drill touchdown and appeared to complete the conversion on a lob to LT Taylor Decker, who had reported as eligible. Unfortunately for the Lions the ref thought a different lineman had reported as eligible, gave the defense the wrong number. As of last night the referee in question was still falsely claiming the wrong lineman had reported. Due to the mix-up the officials flagged Detroit for an illegal formation and illegal touching.
Official sticking to his story, but there’s no way in hell Goff grabbed Taylor Decker by the arm, directed him to report, Decker went to official, official looked at him, and the Lions threw to Decker…but Decker didn’t report. It’s illogical. What’s logical is a ref being wrong. pic.twitter.com/VGP7cPoRH8
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) December 31, 2023
Video evidence shows the Lions handled it correctly:
ESPN just showed another angle. Jared Goff literally sends Taylor Decker and tells him to report as eligible. I mean…. Wow. https://t.co/5rJoI0AcJT pic.twitter.com/vuyQCmnJkY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
Decker went up to the referee and reported himself an eligible receiver on the play. Dan Campbell claims he discussed the play with the officials before the game, and the other lineman says he never reported. Had the correct lineman been reported as eligible on the play the Lions were in a legal formation and the play would have counted.
Also every ref in the league has a history of questionable calls so it's not particularly relevant that this one does. Also also the Lions tried twice more for the conversion (the first after taking the penalty drew an offsides) and failed, and many more events in this game, including the Cowboys losing a fumble out of the endzone and Jourdan Lewis being absolutely boss, and a 92-yard touchdown that could have been a safety greatly influenced the outcome.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:03 AM ^
This controversy brought to you by FanDuel!
Totally not related or problematic, we swear!
December 31st, 2023 at 9:08 AM ^
Lions covered either way so no.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:41 AM ^
They didn’t cover the money line bets, so yes.
December 31st, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
Furthermore, that "92 yd." TD play had a blatant hold on Dallas not called that totally affected LB Campbell from getting to Dak and not allowing him to heave the ball in the first place, ugh!!!!
With all of that being said, Goff has a really strong arm evidenced by the 63 yd pass to Jamo but damn, he noodle armed the INT intended for LaPorta when down 17-13 late and the 2 pt attempt to Mitchell, so frustrating.
December 31st, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
Seriously. It’s hard to watch Barnes avoid tackling Dak for a safety, then watching the refs screw this up, and not come away from games thinking there are people behind the scenes manipulating the games.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
Jourdan Lewis should have been called for PI
The long Dallas TD pass there was blatant holding.
Two other difference makers in my opinion. Home cookin refs
December 31st, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
There's holding on every play. I saw Sewell hold Parsons multiple times during the game and all of those went uncalled. Holding is not something we can get up in arms about, but whiffing on an easy safety absolutely is. Barnes cannot miss that tackle. Aikman was right to call him out for that. Throwing a shoulder into a guy is lazy.
If Barnes makes the easy tackle, the Lions are up 5-0 at halftime (maybe more) and we likely don't have this discussion regarding the refs fucking up the 2-point conversion.
My point is that, while the call was massive and absolutely wrong, the Lions had multiple opportunities to win this game. Throwing 2 picks, botching a safety (9 point play, basically) and a few other mental errors all played a factor in this loss. I guarantee Coach Campbell is going to focus on the mental errors and what they can control throughout the week instead of a blown call. Because he's a leader and a good coach.
Sometimes you have to play through the ref's bullshit and win in spite of them.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
While I don't dispute many of your other points, "play through the ref's bullshit and win in spite of them" doesn't apply to this particular game situation, being that only 0:23 remained in the game. Neither of the subsequent 2-point attempts were from the 2 yard line, neither had the element of surprise the wrongly overturned successful one had, and the chances of a successful onside kick are always very minimal.
Simply stated, there's not enough time remaining to overcome that official's screwup.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:29 AM ^
Playoffs work for me. The Cowboys aren't going to be able to avoid the Lions if they don't let them. You can't win them all, but there is plenty of redemption still left in the season. You got to use this, not unlike Michigan has to use their playoff experience this year to get it done. It does feel like Michigan vs. Everybody is a thing. This game was an outrage. Thanks for the reset... this was unbloggable last night.Simply stated, there's not enough time remaining to overcome that official's screwup.
December 31st, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
I'm not saying the call wasn't blown and that it didn't have an affect on the game. I am saying the Lions had chances to win this game BEFORE the 2pt screwup. That play on Barnes being the most egregious. That play alone wins the game.
We can fuss all we want about a blown call, rightly so I might add, but it doesn't change the fact the Lions could have won this game anyway without the refs getting involved.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:46 AM ^
The Cowboys also made bad plays which contributed to what would have likely been their 22-21 loss. Lamb fumbled going into the endzone. So what?
If the Lions' opponents sometimes had to play through the ref's bullshit and win in spite of them, then you have a fair point. If you've watched the Lions over the past 30 years, you know that it's about 10:1 in favor of the opponent getting the benefit of a controversial call at the end of the game.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
Was Lamb's fumble that resulted in a touchback for the Lions a correct - or incorrect - call?
It looked correct to me.
The Lions made mistakes - and, so did the Cowboys. No team plays a perfect game.
The officials got in the way of the Lions - it was a good play call - the official was notified - it's difficult to understand how the infraction was called / justified. Oh, unless the official who Decker reported to wasn't paying attention - since, as was noted in another channel - the official was "keeping an on on Skipper (#70)" - instead of Decker (#68) who was the tackle eligible on the initial two point attempt.
Just ridiculous.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:32 AM ^
Agree...100% correct call there, without dispute.Was Lamb's fumble that resulted in a touchback for the Lions a correct - or incorrect - call?
December 31st, 2023 at 11:41 AM ^
Agreed - the fumble by Lamb was the correct call. The officials have replay - however, I don't think the "Decker said, official heard" - can be challenged, unless the refs microphones are recorded.
This dispute fits in the egregious column for bad calls.
December 31st, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
It’s a coin flip whether that’s true.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
"Sometimes you have to play through the ref's bullshit and win in spite of them."
Fuck off with this bullshit. At what point do you stop having to play through the refs bullshit? Everybody uses this as an excuse for losing, and its lazy AF. You're the guy that says Michigan just had to play better to win in 2016 despite everything the refs made them play through to get so close. At what point do you fairly blame the refs? At what point does the refs incompetence (or flat out corruption) begin to affect the outcome of the game?
Such a stupid and lazy take...
December 31st, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Ohio State is blaming the refs for losing to Michigan this year. Everybody blames the refs when they lose close games. Campbell could have — should have, in my opinion — gone for the extra point after the penalty.
The "lazy take" is "we lost because of the refs." Not because refs don't make mistakes — they obviously do — but because if you stop playing as soon as a call goes against you, you're fucked anyway. Damned right you have to play through it.
December 31st, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Your argument holds water for judgement calls. Like the JT Barrett spot. Or any pass interference or holding call. But this? We saw Decker walk up to the ref say something which could only be reporting eligible. Why else would he bother walking out of his way to bend the ref’s ear? Skipper did not talk to the ref. There is visual evidence for all this. The only explanation is the ref was told one number and mistook it for another. A brain fart of epic proportions that can not happen. Like Jim Joyce blowing the call at first and costing Armando Gallaraga a perfect game. But at least Joyce personally owned it. The League and especially the ref will never do that.
December 31st, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
Too soon?
I think not.
December 31st, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
Never too soon
December 31st, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
That picture looks like it was taken from right where I was sitting.
Just bizarre. I think Joyce was just overwhelmed by the moment.
December 31st, 2023 at 4:40 PM ^
How is it lazy for the Lions to look themselves in the mirror and say they had opportunities to win in spite of the refs? That's WAY more difficult to admit than it is to blame everything on the refs. Blaming the refs is a lazy take. I don't understand your comment. It makes no sense.
You're just angry and your language proves it.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
All that holding! Crazy the Lions were the only team that got called for all that holding
December 31st, 2023 at 2:07 PM ^
I seen Sewell ragdoll Parsons several times as that's what Sewell does. That was probably shocking for any Dallas fan to watch im sure. Sorry you had to witness that.
I also heard the announcers say Sewell was handling Parsons by himself I believe on the final drive. I'm assuming they were insinuating Dallas needed to move Parsons off Sewell.
Parsons is an elite talent so is Sewell.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:12 AM ^
Maybe the NFL said, we should screw the Lions now and not in the playoffs, so let's get this over with now. This means Happy Days are ahead for the Lions where they get a fair game called.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:04 AM ^
This is going to be "he said, she said".
I find it difficult to believe that the Lions didn't follow the steps. Decker, Campbell, Goff, etc. - followed the procedure - Campbell told the officials they would do this - and, it really looks like the officials weren't paying attention - ignored Decker's reporting in - or - just wanted the Cowboys to win.
Yes - the Lions make mistakes during the game - and, so did the Cowboys.
The result was ridiculous and NFL officials look terrible.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:11 AM ^
I watched a clip on YouTube after the game where Scott Van Pelt had a guy on who was supposed to be an expert on refs. He claimed that the ref didn’t see Decker, he was only “looking at 70”. Complete bullshit. You can see him clearly looking at Decker and even saying something to him before he ran off. Ref expert claims that it’s Deckers fault and his responsibility to make sure the ref knows he is declaring. SVP even said, “ What is he supposed to do? Do jumping jacks right in front of him to make sure he sees him?” Ref expert says it’s all on the Lions and ref did the right thing. What a joke.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
And if Decker starts doing jumping jacks and saying - "no, No, NO - it's me - not him." What would have happened? Might the Cowboys have noticed this.
Terrible officiating - nothing else.
It will be interesting to see if the NFL has anything else to say about this. I'll wager - "no" - the situation is done and no more discussion or review.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
And now I’m seeing the lions are saying that 70 didn’t even report as eligible, only Decker. It’s one thing if the refs saw one guy reporting and missed the other, but for them to claim one was reporting when he didn’t? This is even worse than I thought.
December 31st, 2023 at 3:13 PM ^
He didn't, watch the cliip. The ref was running away, with two Detroit players (including Decker) blocking his view of 70 entirely, he never got within 10 yards of the ref. Unreal.
December 31st, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
In all cases it’s a bad call by the ref.
But how did the ref make this mistake other than being stupid and lazy?
The Lions said that 70 reported in as eligible multiple times this game. Each time, the ref reported to the defense that 70 was eligible. There appears to be little bit of “crying wolf” here to get Dallas used to 70 being eligible. This all appears to be a decoy to set up the trick play.
For the trick play 68 reported as eligible. 70 came running in from the sidelines over to the ref as he always does when he reports as eligible except he does not report as eligible.
Apparently, these tactics combined are supposed to make Dallas confused. What other reason would there be, to have 70 report in as eligible and then do a fake motion of reporting as eligible, except to confuse Dallas. The only logical explanation for why this might work is that brains tend to be lazy when presented with the same information over and over again.
It seems as though what happened is that their strategy, though executed flawlessly and without any mistake that could be blamed for the bad call, also confused the ref’s lazy brain.
December 31st, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
“Ref experts” are by far and large the biggest douche bags on TV.
The worst is Dean “guy with an opinion” Blandino. He has no fucking qualifications for anything he spews. He doesn’t even cite to actual rules. He just gives his take on a play. Thanks, dip shit Deano. I don’t need you to tell me what I saw.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Theres really no dispute. Why would Decker go to the official if not to report as eligible? The official screwed up and any attempt to cover it up further only makes it look worse
December 31st, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
Allen (the head official) runs away from Decker & Sewell and before Skipper ever gets there, and never even pauses to listen to Decker. Allen's body language is that of someone who can't be bothered. He probably just assumed it was going to be Skipper, told the Cowboys #70, then was stuck with his mistake.
Allen needs to go back to Romper Room listening school.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:06 AM ^
Fuck the Cowboys and refs. Hope we meet them again in the playoffs. I think the Lions can play with anyone in the NFC with the exception of playing on the road against the Niners. NFC championship or bust.
December 31st, 2023 at 8:04 PM ^
Well the last time the Lions played in Dallas in the playoffs there was a pretty big fuck job by the refs that had just a bit of an impact on the outcome. I guess they decided to fuck us early this year which sets up the very real possibility of the Lions playing in Dallas in January and them getting the opportunity to fuck them again. The entire announcing a PI to the crowd and the millions watching - then announcing nope, no PI - was so blatantly fucked up - never ever ever happened before, that even POTUS weighed in on it.
It's hard not to suspect the NFL wanted their nice Jerry J/Jimmy J kumbaya moment to end in a W. And NFL, when you finally get around to giving the Lions their usual shoulder shrug and "oops, yeah they got it wrong, nothing to do about it now" routine. Just save it and shove it straight up your ass.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:07 AM ^
Yeah, but you know what? You don’t go for the two-point conversion three times in a row. Just dumb.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
I like Campbell’s aggressiveness but take the 3 points in the 1st half and you win the game. And don’t go for two once you are moved back to the 7 yard lane.
At the end of the day we watched the Lions get screwed by the refs once again.
December 31st, 2023 at 9:44 AM ^
“Know when to hold em, know when to fold em.”
-Kenny Rogers
December 31st, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^
"Know when to throw away, know when to run."
December 31st, 2023 at 9:51 AM ^
Libe by the Campbell, die by the Campbell. He isn't going to change.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:04 AM ^
I would much rather go down swinging and this team really responds to him. I also think it helps the play calling knowing in many situations you are in four down territory.
But dang just some occasional restraint.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:48 AM ^
That's my take about kicking a FG on 4th and goal to make it a 7-6 game. He should have played the odds; ie being on the road. Keep the score as close as possible. If that was in Ford Field, I could justify being that aggressive.
Go for the extra point after the very botched call at the end of the game with the 2 point conversion after that first try. The Lions defense played well holding Dallas to 20 pints in regulation so I'd rather roll the dice in OT and see what happens.
December 31st, 2023 at 11:27 AM ^
The odds say go for it on 4th and goal. Also, we only got the 4th and goal because of the ballsy AF fake punt from out own 28.
December 31st, 2023 at 12:57 PM ^
First I love Dan Campbell, there is no denying that he is a very good coach, the players love him and they will do anything for him. He has won the most important part of being a coach.
However, while his aggressive approach is good and I do love it. It does needs to be tempered slightly.
In the first half, crazy fake punt called, perfectly executed. Campbell did his job, he saved a dead drive, now with 4th and goal from the 4, take the points. These are essentially free points, his great call on the fake points has generated points. Yet he double down. Campbell is like the gambler who is on a hot streak and doesn't know when to collect his winnings. Great fake punt call, collect the 3 points, sure 7 would be great, but so was the easy 3. You, as the coach, positively impacted the game by getting 3 points. But has a gambler addict, you double down and lost everything on that drive.
Now go to the end of the game, go for 2. Perfect call, your the road team, last minute TD, you have the momentum, you also have in your playbook the perfect play. You did your due diligence and told the moronic refs ahead of time exactly what you would do. The players executed it perfectly but DUMBASS Allen screws you over....
Now, what do you do? He double down again, then when he caught a break he tripled down AGAIN. This is the mark of a bad gambler. You have to know when to call it good. He "won" again with the outstanding 2 point conversion play call. Yet the refs stole it from you, this is the point where ego has to be put aside and just kick the damn extra point (even though it would be a 40 yard FG now) and keep coaching.
Campbell is a much better coach than McCarthy. Had he shown just a small amount of restraint, the entire storyline would have been about McCarthy calling pass plays with 2 minutes left instead of draining the clock.
My hope is that Campbell continues to learn from this and SLIGHTLY alters his mindset. Be aggressive, love it. It makes him a very good coach. To become a Super Bowl winning coach, he will need to learn to know when to take his winnings and live to play another play...
December 31st, 2023 at 1:25 PM ^
December 31st, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
Fake punt was a great call and execution.
But it wasn’t a choice of taking points at that stage. It was about keeping the ball.
Once they were in scoring range getting no points out of it was costly.
December 31st, 2023 at 3:39 PM ^
If it doesn't come off, you're giving away a FG at least and a good shot at a TD. Convert and you still need to drive 40 yards for a FG and 70 for a TD. It's by far the higher risk/lower upside call of the two.
December 31st, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
Football is never as simple as just take the points as there's also field positions in your favor if you don't get the first down which has value too.
Campbell is aggressive which I love and other teams fear.
December 31st, 2023 at 10:22 AM ^
Yeah, going for two after the penalty is nuts. They got lucky to get an offsides penalty on Dallas, but they definitely should’ve just kicked the EP on the 2nd attempt. Though on the 3rd attempt the play is there if Goff just throws a better pass.