Controversy has struck in Arlington, TX, with the Detroit Lions feeling like they should be celebrating a win on the plane ride home. Dan Campbell being Dan Campbell, he decided to go for two following a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He called for a pass to an offensive lineman, Taylor Decker, and the play worked.
However, flags were thrown on the play due to illegal touching. The official said Decker never reported as eligible, forcing some unhappy campers in Detroit. Campbell, specifically, was livid with the call and felt like it cost his team a win.
Here is the moment between Decker and the official, who was seen having a conversation. Dan Skipper ran in at the last moment, potentially causing confusion. It was said that Skipper was the one who reported as eligible.
For now, there is no real explanation for what has happened, with the NFL officiating pool report not being released. All we can do at this point is break it out ourselves, trying to find an answer.
ESPN’s Troy Aikman gave it his best shot, questioning the officials in the moment. At first, he thought Campbell and the Lions were the ones who messed up. However, after getting a replay, Aikman believes the video evidence shows the officials making a bad call.
“I’m not so sure it didn’t happen,” Aikman said. “We’re trying to figure exactly what the process was. But initially, the way that I saw it — ‘Well, maybe Dan Campbell and their special teams and everything that’s involved didn’t quite understand that you have to report even if you’re in the game.
“Then you go back and watch the tape — Dan Skipper comes in but Taylor Decker also walks over to the official and you only do that if you’re telling the official you’re reporting as eligible. I don’t know if [the official] didn’t hear that or what. They said that only Dan Skipper reported but the evidence is on the tape… Hard to believe that he didn’t.”
Aikman then pulled from his own experience, saying Decker was likely attempting to report eligible as low-key as possible. If Dallas were to see him talking to the officials, maybe they would have a sense that the play is coming.
“My guess is that, knowing how these things work, Decker is trying to tell the official but he’s not trying to draw attention to himself at the same time,” Aikman said. “But he does walk over there. So, I think that it’s more the official doesn’t hear Decker report, even though he says ‘I’m eligible.’ He comes up and then the penalty is thrown. There is no reason for Decker to go over to the official unless it’s to tell him he’s reporting.”
The loss hurts for Detroit, even if they already have the NFC North wrapped up. Mathematically, getting the one-seed and a bye was still alive, with one of the requirements being winning out. Now, the Lions are likely locked into the three-seed.
Campbell probably does not care about the specific scenarios at the moment. In the heat of the moment, he just wanted to win the game. A confusing moment for almost everyone involved — even Aikman.
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