Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lions get gift from refs with bogus face mask penalty on Commanders

Originally posted on DC Sports King
By King W. Motley III | Last updated Jan 18, 2025 11:38 PM ET

The Detroit Lions are the NFC’s top-ranked offense, so they don’t need much help. However, Jared Goff and Company got a hand from the NFL officials who called Saturday’s NFL Divisional Round playoff game against the Washington Commanders with a bogus face mask call.

Facing 3rd-and-2, Lions running back David Montgomery was met in the backfield by Commanders defensive end Dante Fowler for what should have been a three-yard loss at the Lions’ 25-yard line. Yet, officials flagged Fowler for a face mask, giving the Lions 15 yards and an automatic first down.

However, replay showed Fowler’s hand grabbing Montgomery at his shoulder pad and yanking him to the ground. Officials must have seen Fowler’s hands, Montgomery’s head position, and the yank and assumed Fowler grabbed the ball carrier by his mask.

Commanders called for a facemask penalty even though it clearly wasn't pic.twitter.com/U87caQAZzc
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 19, 2025

Unfortunately, penalties are not reviewable. The Lions got the first down, the drive continued, and the Lions ultimately capped off the 12-play, 76-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown from Jamyr Gibbs, his second of the game.

Many were not happy with the blown call on social media:

THE REFS STRIKE AGAIN

REFS CALLED THIS A FACEMASK ON THE #COMMANDERS DEFENDER FOR PULLING THE JERSEY OF A #LIONS RB.

AWFUL CALL. MADE UP FROM LITERAL THIN AIR. An extremely costly 15 yard penalty. This should not be happening.
pic.twitter.com/2IuuLT9EUs
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 19, 2025

That’s a missed call. Never touched his facemask
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) January 19, 2025

That’s a terrible rule. Ref calls what he thinks he sees, but it is wrong, and replay assist can’t fix it? It isn’t a judgment call. You either grabbed the face mask or didn’t. Really Dumb.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) January 19, 2025

The Lions’ touchdown cut their deficit against the Commanders to 31-28. However, the drive should have stalled back in Detroit territory with a punt.

This article first appeared on DC Sports King and was syndicated with permission.

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