The Lions-Cowboys game ended in dramatic fashion, with a controversial flag that cost Detroit a win. But the ref is standing by the call.
In the final moments of the game, Detroit decided to go for two after scoring a potential game-tying touchdown with 23 seconds left.
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They ran a trick play on the two-point conversion, with Goff throwing a pass to the back of the end zone, hitting Lions tackle Taylor Decker. It was perfectly executed.
But then the flag.
Refs called illegal touching on Decker, claiming he hadn’t declared himself as eligible. The flag wiped the go-ahead points off the board. The Lions would fail to convert on two more tries.
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.
Decker said he reported as eligible, and Skipper said he didn’t report. Video replays show both of them approaching the ref, after Jared Goff tells Decker to go and report.
---> What Dan Campbell, Taylor Decker said about 2-point conversion penalty vs. Cowboys
Dan Campbell, Goff, Decker and Skipper all say Decker reported as eligible. It appears the ref may have confused which player declared.
Referee Brad Allen spoke to reporters after the game and stood by the call, saying Skipper did report as eligible. Here’s the full exchange from the pool report:
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.”
Question: “There was a player that went to you just before that play - it was Decker - and he was talking to you, two linemen, talking to you and then you went to the Cowboys defensive line to speak to them. What was that conversation about?”
Allen: “That conversation is where number 70 reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team, and I say to them ‘Number 70 has reported as an eligible receiver,’ so they will be aware of who has reported and then I return to my position. That was the conversation with the defensive line.”
Question: “We noticed there were two flags thrown on that same play. Was there another penalty called on that play as well?”
Allen: “Yes. Because number 70 reported as eligible and he was covered up on the line of scrimmage, that makes it an illegal formation. So, number 70 is in an illegal position because he is covered up by rule, and number 68 catches the pass, which is also illegal.”
You read that right. Allen is standing by the call. Complete insanity.
---> Replay shows Lions were clearly robbed of 2-point conversion vs. Cowboys
---> Report: NFL to demote officiating crew that blew calls in Lions-Cowboys