The Detroit Lions have been one of the major surprises this NFL season, but in true Lions fashion, their season effectively ended in a game they didn’t even play in.
With the Lions needing a Seahawks loss to the Rams and then a win over the Packers on Sunday Night Football to make the playoffs, Lions fans were forced to put their faith in Baker Mayfield and the struggling Rams to steal a road win in Seattle. And for much of the game, the Rams were doing just enough to get that job done.
Then, the officials seemingly took over the game.
The Seahawks put together a game-tying drive thanks in part to a bad running into the kicker penalty that extended the possession. Then, the Seahawks had an opportunity to win in regulation when Jalen Ramsey was called for unnecessary roughness after hitting Geno Smith near the sidelines despite Smith making no clear effort to go out of bounds.
Jalen Ramsey was flagged for the hit on Geno Smith out of bounds, DK Metcalf came in and shoved Ramsey's facemask and Ramsey flopped LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/ouN8IksxdO
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) January 9, 2023
Though Jason Myers would miss his field goal and send the game into overtime, the officiating continued to benefit the Seahawks here. In overtime, Mayfield underthrew a potential touchdown pass to Van Jefferson, resulting in a Quandre Diggs interception. Diggs, though, should have been called for taunting when he pointed at the Rams sideline.
Baker picked pic.twitter.com/ANXaKktzQo
— alex (@highlghtheaven) January 9, 2023
The Seahawks were then able to get into Myers’ range and win, 19-16, in overtime. NFL fans could not believe the bad luck the Lions had in a game that took place almost 2,000 miles from them.
This was how Twitter reacted
NFL refs screwing the Lions in a game the Lions aren’t playing in is a new one, at least.
— John Niyo (@JohnNiyo) January 9, 2023
Not the Lions getting screwed by the refs when they're not even playing 🤦♂️
— Alex Reno (@alex_reno) January 8, 2023
That was about the only thing left to add to the Lions bingo card— getting screwed by the refs in a game in which they weren’t even playing.
— Jason Colthorp (@JasonColthorp) January 9, 2023
The Detroit Lions should take knees for 60 minutes out of spite for the Seattle Seahawks and NFL refs. 🤷♂️
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) January 9, 2023
Sorry Lions we had to play against the Refs and the Seahawks today
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) January 9, 2023
The refs robbing us in a game we’re not even playing is a new low 🥲
— Stafford Stan Account 🇬🇧 (@DetroitLions_UK) January 9, 2023
the lions haven’t even played yet and the refs somehow did everything they could to keep detroit out of the playoffs with their calls in the rams-seahawks game…
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) January 9, 2023
You mean, Go Refs. https://t.co/xvgO1FStym
— Lions Pride (@LionsPride) January 9, 2023
The refs hate the Lions so much they decided to punish the Rams as a treat
— Shaker Samman (@ShakerSamman) January 9, 2023
And after all that, the Seahawks’ playoff hopes rely on the Lions beating the Packers. We’ll see how that goes.
