The Lions-Cowboys game on Saturday night ended with a controversial call against Detroit, wiping away the game-winning points from the scoreboard with 23 seconds left.
Lions QB Jared Goff would lead the Lions down the field for a game-tying touchdown. Dan Campbell decided to go for two, to take the lead. They ran a play-action throw to Lions tackle Taylor Decker, but refs ruled that he hadn’t declared, and wiped away the try.
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Video replay shown on ESPN shows Goff telling Decker to report himself, and then shows Decker walking up to a referee, and then walking back to the huddle.
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
After the game, Lions coach Dan Campbell was visibly tense, telling reporters that he was told only No. 70 Dan Skipper reported, despite the video evidence. Jared Goff said he Decker to go and report, and he did.
Troy Aikman said in the post-game that it appears the referee didn’t hear Decker, or heard the wrong thing.
ESPN rules analyst John Parry said it was on Decker to make sure the ref heard him properly. He seriously said this on TV, to real people watching.
---> What Dan Campbell, Taylor Decker said about 2-point conversion penalty vs. Cowboys
Former Lions QB Dan Orlovsky broke down the play on X, saying he doesn’t know any other reason Decker would be walking up to the ref.
Why would Decker walk up to official and not report?
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 31, 2023
I guess maybe he didn’t but odd to walk there and not no? pic.twitter.com/QX3s2byAL3
The Lions would try to score two more times, but couldn’t convert it again. They lost to Dallas, 20-19.