The Detroit Lions challenge the officials after a penalty negates a potentially winning 2-point pass.
After receiving a 2-point conversion pass that would have given Detroit a one-point lead with 23 seconds left, officials determined that offensive tackle Taylor Decker was not an eligible receiver.Instead, the third 2-point attempt on Saturday night ended in an incomplete throw just short of the goal line, costing the Lions (11-5) a 20-19 loss to the Cowboys.
Decker’s catch was called back, but Dallas was offsides when Jared Goff attempted an interception.Goff stated he was positive Decker reported as an eligible receiver, whereas Dan Skipper had not, contradicting the other arguments. Referee Brad Allen stated in a pool report that Decker did not report, whereas Skipper did.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” declared Campbell, who was obviously upset with Allen when they spoke following the announcement of the decision by the authorities. “Alright, I go over everything in detail before the game. That’s what I did.”Back-up tackle Skipper, according to Allen, reported to him as an eligible receiver but later switched to tackle, thus he was relieved of any reporting requirements. The starting left tackle, Decker, was in the game already.
Decker and Allen were seen on camera chatting, after which Allen addressed the Dallas defense.”That conversation is where (Skipper) reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team, and I say to them ‘(Skipper) has reported as an eligible receiver,’ so they will be aware of who has reported and then I return to my position,” Allen stated in the report from the pool. “That was the conversation with the defensive line.”
After Goff’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Decker spoke with the officials. If the Lions scored, Campbell claimed he had already informed his team that he would go for the victory.”All I really want to say on it, just so I don’t get myself into trouble, is I did exactly what coach told me to do,” Decker explained. “From what I understood, Dan mentioned the possibilities of those kinds of plays during the warmup, so I followed his instructions. performed the entire week like we had practiced.”
While officials deliberated over their next move, Goff argued Detroit’s case.Goff expressed his confusion. “What is certain is that Decker reported; I’m not sure if this will result in a fine for me. I am aware that Dan Skipper wasn’t. I am aware that they claimed Dan Skipper was involved.
For the second time this season, the Cowboys (11-5) overcame a fourth-quarter deficit at AT&T Stadium to close the regular season 8-0 at home, extending their home winning run to 16 games.
McCarthy claimed to have been informed that Skipper had been declared eligible, but that Decker was rendered ineligible as a receiver because of Skipper’s alignment.Dallas coach Mike McCarthy declared, “That was a 2-point extravaganza.” “Lines up, and for three or four plays, it looked like training camp. Fantastic ending and battle by both teams.”