OK, buckle up for this one. It’s a bit of a doozy when it comes to NFL rules and some confusion involving players and officials.
In the Detroit Lions’ 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Jared Goff and Co. pulled off what might have been the game-winning two-point conversion, a pass to offensive lineman Taylor Decker that would have put them up 21-20.
But: No. There was a flag. Decker was called for illegal touching, as offensive lineman aren’t allowed to catch forward passes … UNLESS they report in to a referee that they are eligible as a tight end, something that would be announced by the ref over the loudspeaker so the defense and everyone else is aware.
So what happened? Let’s break it down:
First, here's the awesome play that was for naught
Check this out:
LIONSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS – they get the two point conversion pic.twitter.com/UcSKYnEARw
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 31, 2023
Again, it was a penalty against the Lions, so it wiped out this play.
Taylor Decker says he reported eligible to the referee
This is the entire crux of the argument for the Lions. In this video you can see Goff tell Decker to go report in to the referee:
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
Decker himself said he talked to the ref:
#Lions Taylor Decker: “I did what I was told to do.” pic.twitter.com/nAniCMAZIh
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) December 31, 2023
However, there was some confusion here, because these videos show both Decker and No. 70 Dan Skipper go over to the official:
NFL is really going to let Brad Allen go unpunished? He’s flat out lying. Dude never talked to Dan Skipper and nods right at Decker. Then announces 70 as eligible. The pure negligence is bad but to double down and lie? Good lord. Suspend and fine his ass pic.twitter.com/XlaS2adb8c
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 31, 2023
We’ll get to that in a sec.
The referee, Brad Allen, announced Skipper (No. 70) not Decker as eligible
OK, so this is where things get fuzzy. Decker — as you saw above — said he reported in. But per referee Brad Allen in a pool report, it was Skipper who did it:
Official sticking to his story, but there’s no way in hell Goff grabbed Taylor Decker by the arm, directed him to report, Decker went to official, official looked at him, and the Lions threw to Decker…but Decker didn’t report. It’s illogical. What’s logical is a ref being wrong. pic.twitter.com/VGP7cPoRH8
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) December 31, 2023
Videos show Decker appearing to get the nod
Check this angle out: Decker and another player walk toward Allen, and some people think Allen nodded at No. 68 (Decker) and not at No. 70 (Skipper), who was running up as Allen walked away:
I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan thankful to win but what was Decker chatting with the ref about if he wasn’t reporting lol #DetroitLions #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/IoV0ObmjcX
— delux poke (@PistolPetesBro) December 31, 2023
NFL is really going to let Brad Allen go unpunished? He’s flat out lying. Dude never talked to Dan Skipper and nods right at Decker. Then announces 70 as eligible. The pure negligence is bad but to double down and lie? Good lord. Suspend and fine his ass pic.twitter.com/XlaS2adb8c
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 31, 2023
Sooo … uh, what happened here?
so who didn’t report then? pic.twitter.com/5U1sB2kLXk
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 31, 2023
Why would Decker walk up to official and not report?
I guess maybe he didn’t but odd to walk there and not no? pic.twitter.com/QX3s2byAL3
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 31, 2023
Some Cowboys thought Decker was eligible
But not head coach Mike McCarthy:
Two Cowboys defenders thought Decker was eligible.
The Lions were robbed because the referee made a mistake. A very *very* big mistake.
Now imagine if this happens in the Super Bowl. https://t.co/C7CfkOTdNm
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) December 31, 2023
If Taylor Decker was ineligible why did the Cowboys safety follow 68 into the end zone?? #DetroitLions #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/h41DVSiyWI
— jo (@j0_plo) December 31, 2023
Was this on Decker?
A question being asked by some people after the game:
If you are a reporting lineman, it is 100% on you to ensure the referee acknowledges that you reported. 70 signaled by brushing his chest and Brad Allen pointed to him in acknowledgement. 68 got no feedback from the referee
— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) December 31, 2023
Got a better look at this in the postgame with the zoomed angle. 70 gives the signal and Allen acknowledges with a point. 68 did not get a response from Allen. It is completely on the lineman to report directly and receive positive feedback from the referee https://t.co/unsgY9gTC7
— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) December 31, 2023
Either way, this is a mess all around, and no one is happy with the explanations for it.
