Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Detroit Lions, expressed his annoyance about the team’s defeat to the Chicago Bears in Week 14.
Following a heartbreaking defeat culminating in a contentious call, head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions was not inclined to revisit the circumstances.
On December 30, the Lions fell short of a 2-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys, 20-19. At first, it seemed like the conversion was made, but officials called unlawful touching on the team.
With twenty-three seconds left, the Lions pulled within twenty-nine points, thanks to a touchdown drive after the Dallas Cowboys had taken the lead in the fourth quarter. Instead of going for the game-winning extra point, Campbell opted for a 2-point conversion, and the Lions appeared to seize the lead when quarterback Jared Goff found tackle Taylor Decker by himself in the end zone.
Although it seemed on replays that Decker had spoken to a referee prior to lining up, the referees concluded that Decker had not declared himself to be an eligible receiver. The play was wiped out by a Cowboys offsides call, but the Lions tried for two again and were stopped on an interception. Goff’s pass to James Mitchell was incomplete to end the final 2-point attempt; the Cowboys recovered the onside kick and ran out the time.
After the game, Campbell spoke with reporters and said the referees informed him that it was lineman Dan Skipper who had declared himself eligible, not Decker.
“70 reported, 68 didn’t, we threw it to 68, that was the explanation,” Campbell said via ClickOnDetroit, looking clearly irritated. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
Lions Lineman Disputes Referee
After the game, Decker claimed that he had gone to the referee and reported himself as eligible; the footage seemed to support his claims. Before lined up for the play, Decker approached the referee, as seen in a replay that was aired on ESPN.
Decker continued, “Not much more I can add to it, just see the video evidence.”
Referee Brad Allen might have simply not heard Decker when he reported as eligible, according to speculation made by ESPN rules analyst and veteran NFL referee John Parry after the game. Decker was held accountable by Parry for failing to ensure that Parry heard and acknowledged him.
“You only received six points. We’re going to go for two now, so don’t rush things. Take your time,” Parry stated, as reported by USA Today. “Ensure that you are aware of the participants. They intend to go for two. Go slowly and double-check that everything is correct. Ensure that the defense is aware of who is and is not eligible. In this instance, it seems to me that there was never any communication between 68 [Decker] and Brad Allen because of the way you see Brad move and concentrate on No. 70 [Skipper].
Significant Loss for Lions
Only one week after the Lions won their first division championship in thirty years, the defeat can have serious consequences for the team. With a shot at a first-round bye, the Lions entered Saturday’s game tied for the top record in the NFC with the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. They fell to 11-5 and the No. 3 seed after the loss.
The Minnesota Vikings are the team the Lions play to end the season.
Sports writer Nathan Dougherty writes about the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. In the past, he worked as an assistant editor for the sports trade publications Coaching Management, Athletic Management, and Training & Conditioning in addition to writing for the Rochester Business Journal. Based in Rochester, New York, he has an intense passion for all things football.Additional information on Nathan Dougherty
