Detroit Lions fans have seen their fair share of frustrating officiating moments on Thanksgiving Day, but Thursday’s 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers may go down as one of the most outrageous yet.
This wasn’t a close call. It wasn’t a gray-area ruling that the NFL could explain with pages of rulebook jargon. It was simple — and painfully obvious.
Packers False Start Ignored on Critical Fourth Down
Late in the second quarter, with Green Bay leading 10-7 and facing a fourth-and-1 at the Detroit 2-yard line, Packers right tackle Anthony Belton clearly false-started before the snap. Fans at Ford Field and viewers at home saw it. A flag even flew on the play, sparking Detroit celebrations.
But then the officials reversed course. They claimed Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur called a timeout before the false start, negating the penalty. Video replay clearly shows LaFleur signaling timeout after Belton jumped, not before. The result? The Packers avoided a costly penalty and scored a touchdown on the very next play, taking a 17-7 lead.
Matt LaFleur’s Post-Game Comments Spark Outrage
Adding insult to injury, LaFleur smiled and winked when asked about the call after the game, stating:
“Of course they got it right.”
Packers fans laughed. Lions fans did not.
NFL Explanation Fails the Eye Test
Referee Ron Torbert insisted:
“We recognized the timeout was called before the false start.”
The film proves otherwise. Belton clearly moved first, LaFleur reacted, and the officials changed the call mid-play — a sequence that altered the momentum of a one-score game.
Why Detroit Lions Fans Deserve Better
Lions head coach Dan Campbell remained professional in his post-game remarks, but fans are justified in feeling outraged. This wasn’t a questionable or missed call. This was an obvious mistake that benefitted the Packers, changed the flow of the game, and continued a long history of controversial officiating against Detroit.
Bottom Line: Controversial Calls Cost Lions
While Detroit’s missed opportunities and injuries contributed to the loss, this officiating error gave the Packers an unfair advantage. The call, the NFL’s response, and the subsequent shrug from LaFleur highlighted exactly why Lions fans continue to feel frustrated on Thanksgiving.
