The Saturday Night Football matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions was one for the history books, especially in the way it ended. The Lions scored a touchdown with seconds to go in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to 20-19. Instead of going for the extra point to tie the game and likely go to overtime, the Lions decided to go for the win on a two-point conversion. They ended up throwing the ball to their offensive lineman Taylor Decker, who scored what would have been the game-winner, but the NFL referees saw it differently.
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
Dan Campbell Responds
The play ended up being called back because of an illegal touching penalty, and the referees claimed that Decker did not report as an eligible receiver. The Detroit sideline erupted, and fans were confused as to why the team was not happy with the call. After the game ended with a 20-19 loss for Detroit, video evidence showed that Decker did indeed report as an eligible receiver, which has cause major controversy amongst NFL fans and analysts.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell was angry about the situation and looked like he was holding back words in the press conference after the game.
Two people can’t report. I don’t want to talk about it. I explained everything pregame to a tee. 70 (Dan Skipper) reported… the explanation was that 70 reported.
Detroit Lions Get Win Stolen
Campbell proceeded to pace around the podium and even crumbled up and threw a paper that was on the table in front of him. He was doing his best to dodge the questions about the controversial call, likely to avoid a hefty fine, similar to what we saw with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid.
Detroit has fallen to 11-5, but remains the NFC North champion and has a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The NFL could have a serious problem on their hands after the video evidence has gone public, and everyone is saying the league is rigged. Will the NFL respond to the mistake by the officials, or will they not comment on the situation, which will ensure even more chaos?
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1 Comment
The Detroit Lions were robbed! I’m a 49ers fan, but anyone can see what a despicable call that was of those referees! How much did they get paid for that? They’re either blind or dirty, and I hope they and anyone else like them are held accountable! I always want my team to win, but I want them to win fairly, not by some wrong call by a referee! With all the technology and cameras and everything else at the referees’ disposal, there is no place for calls like this! Get it together or don’t be a referee! The NFL needs to be better than this! Are they dirty cheaters? I certainly hope not, but if they are, they also need to be dealt with. I don’t care how rich they are, there shouldn’t be any room for cheating. It’s unfair to the coaches. It’s unfair to the players, and it’s unfair to the fans! Congratulations to the Detroit Lions for a phenomenal year! I live in California but I was born in Detroit, so the Lions are my second favorite team! They have worked very hard to get where they are right now! How dare anyone try to rob them!