Questions Remain After Cowboys and Lions Controversial Finish

Dec 31, 2023
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Controversial ending

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions Saturday night 20-19, but the win is still fresh and has a weird feeling after the way it ended.

As I’m sure most of you have seen, the refs either make a huge mistake announcing the wrong Lions offensive lineman eligible or someone is lying.

Detroit would have had a one-point lead over the Cowboys with under a minute left.

The official ruled that Taylor Decker was an ineligible receiver, even though Taylor said he reported prior to the snap.

The Cowboys should have been trailing by one with about 24 seconds left on the clock and two timeouts. 

Detroit had two more chances to either tie the game or take the lead after Micah Parsons went offsides.

In a pool report (referee report), referee Brad Allen said the opposite, that Skipper reported to him as eligible and Decker did not.

From what it sounds like, the refs accounted that No. 70 was the eligible receiver, so Dallas didn’t cover the lineman who caught the pass. 

Officials have been bad

Let’s not sugarcoat this, the refs haven’t been good all year. 

This same crew missed the defensive pass interference at the end of the Chiefs-Packers game also. 

The Lions had two more chances to either take the lead or just tie it and play for overtime after the first bad call, yet they failed two more times going for two. 

As a Cowboys fan, we can’t give the win back, and Dallas still had two timeouts and 24 seconds on the clock.

If the Lions do go up by one, Dallas has the best kicker in football who hasn’t missed a kick all season. 

They would have needed what, 35 yards to give him a chance? 

Playoff seeding

What I think most are upset about is the change in playoff seeding this outcome could have.

I’d be wrong to say if it was the other way around, I’d be upset, but the Cowboys have been on the wrong end of stuff for years.

End of the day it’s going to possibly impact the playoff seeding.

Detroit will likely have to go on the road and play the winner of the NFC East in the divisional round now instead of hosting them at home.

If the Eagles lose one of their next two games and the Cowboys beat Washington next week, the Cowboys would claim the division and the No. 2 seed. 

We have to understand anything can happen in the playoffs and if the Lions lose at home in their first game this will mean nothing.

They still get a home game in the wildcard round.

Cowboys will still likely be on the road as the 5 seed. 

The 49ers are likely to still be the top seed if they win the final two games, but crazier things have happened.

If Mike McCarthy just runs the football instead of throwing it on 2nd down or the bad call on Peyton Hendershot isn’t called we aren’t even talking about this.

The NFL needs to find a way to make sure these calls are more right than wrong.

in 2023, they have been bad, although this call went for the Cowboys, it’s still a bad call, I can admit that.

Shane Taylor

Shane Taylor

Shane Taylor is a Dallas Cowboys fan from the Midwest. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and works at a Junior College in the TRIO Upward Bound department. Taylor has written for two publications in his lifetime. The first was as a Sports Reporter for Journal Star while in college. He also spent a year as a Regional News Reporter for Shaw Media. When he is not working or writing for Inside The Star, he enjoys bowling competitively. Feel free to connect with him on his social media outlets listed below!

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Patrick Bowhay
Patrick Bowhay
Dec 31, 2023 11:37 AM

I mean if they call the right player eligible its a different play altogether because Dallas knows so you cant give Detroit the 2pt because that would be straight up cheating. Even if they made the initial mistake of announcing the wrong number, which sounds the most likely, they have to at least replay the down.

lonewolfz28
lonewolfz28
Dec 31, 2023 11:47 AM

I see it as turnabout for the no-call on the obvious illegal hands to the face of Parsons on one of the Lions’ TD’s. The only reason Parsons wasn’t looking out the earhole of his helmet was because he was having his head shoved so far up and back that the helmet was about to come off. He was getting mugged repeatedly again, play after play, with no offensive holding called.

lonewolfz28
lonewolfz28
Dec 31, 2023 3:03 PM
Reply to  lonewolfz28

I just watched the Giants get called for two holding penalties (1 by TE, and 1 by C) that were nothing compared to the holds happening to Parsons on nearly every play where he rushes the passer. Of course, if Dallas was playing, our OL would be the ones getting flagged left and right.

Billy Pernell
Billy Pernell
Dec 31, 2023 11:52 AM

Illegal formation anyway

Jeff Harness
Jeff Harness
Dec 31, 2023 12:34 PM

Maybe a wildcard win if we’re lucky and then we’re unfortunately done!

Howard Holt
Howard Holt
Jan 2, 2024 4:56 PM
Reply to  Jeff Harness

Jeff Harness when we beat the Commanders we will be #2 in seeding. That will mean two potential playoff games at home. We are 8-0 at home.

Mike M
Mike M
Dec 31, 2023 12:47 PM

I think the “confusion” about that “eligible receiver” wasn’t accidental.
The play was designed thst way hoping these notoriously bad refs would miss it.
What could be easier than having your receiver uncovered?
These refs got this call correct…much to Campbell’s chagrin!

lonewolfz28
lonewolfz28
Dec 31, 2023 3:00 PM
Reply to  Mike M

Yup. There were two flags. One for the illegal touching, and one for the eligible OL being covered up by the unreported OT.
I think Skipper (#70) screwed up by reporting eligible when he wasn’t supposed to. He’s probably used to reporting in those situations. That tends to happen when you try getting cute by trying to sow confusion in the opponent. Sometimes you end up confusing the refs, or even worse, your own team.

Steve Preciado
Steve Preciado
Dec 31, 2023 1:01 PM

Detroit player tried to be sly by not being fully committed to making sure the ref acknowledged him checking in as a receiver. Detroit tried being Belicheck for a moment and messed it up. Not only that but he did it right before lining up. Maybe Dallas brings in different players for the play if they knew #68 checked in as a reciever? Cry all you want Detroit, get it out of your system but your team is to blame for the mess up. Hey at least Jason Kelce fully admitted to their “tush push” cheat of moving the ball forward a foot and a half before his team lined up based on the balls new position. Said he’d been warned for years about doing that. Lions can admit their mess up too.

Earl Geary
Earl Geary
Dec 31, 2023 1:33 PM

If they would have gotten the tripping call right this conversation doesn’t happen Dallas first down game over

Mike William
Mike William
Dec 31, 2023 4:47 PM
Reply to  Earl Geary

Earl Geary obvious holding call missed on the 96 yd td. You’re right the game shouldn’t have been that close

Kevin Spigelmeyer
Kevin Spigelmeyer
Jan 2, 2024 4:29 AM
Reply to  Earl Geary

Mike William you’re trying to argue something you think should’ve happened against a complete blown call that did happen. Dallas gets called for tripping when it was Detroit compared to your ghost holding call.

Kevin Spigelmeyer
Kevin Spigelmeyer
Jan 2, 2024 6:31 AM
Reply to  Earl Geary

Mike William OK dumb fuck everybody knows it wasn’t because of that one call they’ve been making bad calls all year just like the botched tripping call against Dallas that was actually Detroit if you had a fucking brain cell, you would realize that

Kevin Spigelmeyer
Kevin Spigelmeyer
Jan 2, 2024 8:34 AM
Reply to  Earl Geary

Mike William I’m still waiting for you to prove yourself, right?

Jason Harris
Jason Harris
Dec 31, 2023 1:56 PM

Only question I have is with the o-line. They are not playing well at all.

Jason Harris
Jason Harris
Dec 31, 2023 6:04 PM
Reply to  Jason Harris

Doug Mackenzie yes sir and Dan Quinn calling soft didn’t help any. This team needs to be aggressive and stay aggressive!

Siempre
Siempre
Dec 31, 2023 6:00 PM

No, it was the correct call. Not only did the player not clearly report but the outside receiver was on the line making the tackle ineligible. No one cries when the Boys get bad calls but the refs got this correct.
Eagles just lost.
Beat Washington next week and win the NFC East!

Tucker Ophof
Tucker Ophof
Dec 31, 2023 6:05 PM

Should have never even gotten to this point..refs blew a call on the prior series when Dallas had the ball with 1:41 left, called tripping penalty on Dallas should have been on Detroit. Get that call right the game is over! Meanwhile not 1 show has covered that!

Davern Jones
Davern Jones
Jan 1, 2024 5:49 PM

The only question that should remain is what time is the Washington game next week.

Greg Caruana
Greg Caruana
Jan 1, 2024 9:23 PM
Reply to  Davern Jones

Davern Jones 3:25 1/7

Greg Caruana
Greg Caruana
Jan 1, 2024 9:30 PM

Brian Keith lions screwed up in reporting as an eligible receiver. 68 wasn’t covered. If it was reported correctly it would have been a way harder reception. Not an easy catch. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-created-illusion-led-to-confusion-controversial-call-dean-blandino-says

Alphonso De La Pena
Alphonso De La Pena
Jan 1, 2024 11:02 PM

Dallas lost that game because Campbell called a shit game. He should have kicked that earlier field goal. Dallas is not playing well going into the playoffs again. They are already preparing to choke.

Mike Garafalo
Mike Garafalo
Jan 2, 2024 6:47 PM

Shaddap

Leroy Ulibarri Jr.
Leroy Ulibarri Jr.
Jan 3, 2024 8:32 AM

They need to focus on this play because if the ref would of called this play right GAME OVER.
Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7009477795815415&set=p.7009477795815415&type=3

Steve Blackwood
Steve Blackwood
Jan 3, 2024 10:34 AM

cowboys lost…they just refuse to admit it.

Ralph Bladen
Ralph Bladen
Jan 3, 2024 5:42 PM

To all those who don’t know the rules, the player who caught the ball was an ineligible receiver therefore he could not catch the ball. The Lions blew it due to their coaches arrogance. Get over it.

Beverly Olson
Beverly Olson
Jan 3, 2024 6:02 PM

How many more versions can there be about this game

Pookey Fletchet
Pookey Fletchet
Jan 3, 2024 8:42 PM

GAME OVER PERIOD !! MOVE ON NEXT

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