NFL referee Brad Allen. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Officiating crew will be downgraded after Lions-Cowboys gaffe

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 1/1/24

Brad Allen's officiating crew is in hot water following a snafu in the Dallas Cowboys' controversial victory over the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

"A large part of Brad Allen's crew is not going to be officiating in the postseason," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said Sunday on "SportsCenter." "They're going to get downgraded, and the chances are that many of them are not going to be involved in the postseason."

It seems like a harsh punishment. However, the crew made a major mistake that cost the Lions (11-5) a win and affected their playoff seeding.

In the 20-19 loss, Detroit quarterback Jared Goff connected with left tackle Taylor Decker on a two-point conversion with 23 seconds left. Even though he appeared to report, the crew erased the play, ruling Decker as an ineligible receiver.

After Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons lined up offside, the Lions ran a third attempt and failed.

ESPN just showed another angle. Jared Goff literally sends Taylor Decker and tells him to report as eligible. I mean…. Wow. https://t.co/5rJoI0AcJT pic.twitter.com/vuyQCmnJkY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023

In his postgame news conference, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he told the officials he might run a play with Decker as an eligible pass-catcher before the game. Per ESPN.com, Allen claimed right tackle Dan Skipper reported instead, and it was the correct call.

This isn't the first time Allen's crew has been under fire. Schefter noted it missed a defensive pass interference by Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine in the final minute of the Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) loss to Green Bay (7-8) in Week 13.

Officals' decisions can impact the outcome of games, so they should be held accountable when they keep making critical errors. The Lions, meanwhile, can't clinch the NFC's No. 1 or No. 2 seed after the loss to Dallas (11-5).

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