It makes sense that the Detroit Lions thought they were denied the victory in their Saturday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
After all, the Lions appeared to have scored the two-point convert off a Jared Goff pass to Taylor Decker (no. 68) with just 23 seconds remaining, giving them the impression that they had taken the lead. However, due to an unlawful touching penalty on the Detroit offensive lineman, the conversion was waived.
Offense lineman Dan Skipper (number 70) was declared as an eligible receiver, and it appears that Decker did not report to referee Brad Allen as an eligible receiver.
After the game, it was the reasoning offered to head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions. The officials, including referee Brad Allen, stood by their call, despite the players’ denials of the reporting, with even Skipper maintaining he did not report as an eligible receiver.
We therefore had a situation where you were required to notify the referee if an ineligible person was going to take an eligible position. Number 70, who had reported a few times during the game, informed me that he was eligible on this specific play. Next, he took his place at the tackle position. When asked about the penalty levied against the Lions, Allen responded, “So, actually, he didn’t have to report at all,” according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic in the postgame interview.
“Number 68 failed to report after touching the pass while moving downfield. As a result, it is a foul since he is ineligible to touch a pass that crosses the line. The problem is that while number 70 reported, number 68 did not.
Allen went on to explain why the play that resulted in the Lions’ two-point convert was waived off with two flags. He lined up in the wrong formation for the play since Skipper reported to him as an eligible receiver. That increased the punishment in addition to Decker’s call.
“It’s an illegal formation because number 70 reported eligible and was covered up on the line of scrimmage. Therefore, because he is shielded by the rule, number 70 is in an illegal position, and number 68 catches the pass, which is also against the law, Brad Allen continued.
The Detroit Lions had a few opportunities to finish the two-point convert after the Cowboys were flagged for an offsides penalty in the play that followed, but they were unable to do so. This is undoubtedly a perplexing turn of events for the team. In the end, Dallas managed to hang on for the 20-19 win.
Given that the incorrect eligible receiver was announced, a large number of Detroit Lions supporters and NFL watchers expressed the opinion that the referee had miscommunicated. The referee is being blamed for maybe being confused about who reported to him, as the Lions maintain that Decker was the one who did so.
Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker, Jared Goff Speak Out
For his part, Taylor Decker emphasized that he informed referee Brad Allen that he was the play’s eligible receiver.
The seasoned OL informed reporters after the game that he only followed instructions.
According to Nolan Bianchi of Detroit News, Decker stated, “All I really want to say on it, so I didn’t get myself in trouble, is I did exactly what coach told me to do.” “Said, ‘Report,’ sure, and went to the referee. My impression is that Dan discusses the potential of those plays in the pregame. I followed instructions and performed the task as we had practiced it all week.
Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Detroit Lions, supported Decker’s assertion regarding reporting, even mentioning that he is aware that colleague Dan Skipper did not.
“I know that Decker reported, but I’m not sure if I’ll be fined for this. Goff continued, “I am aware that Dan Skipper did not.
It will be interesting to hear the NFL’s assessment of the event. Given that it was a matchup between two of the best teams in the 2023–24 season, it will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion throughout the week.
