The Top-Ten Detroit Lions Worst Officiating Bad Beats
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) (Michael Ainsworth, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved)
Justin Scott || 12/31/2023 || Statewide Sports
If you’re a Lions fan, or even an NFL fan, who watched last night’s game, you might’ve came away feeling pretty empty. A missed officiating call likely took away the Detroit Lions’ chance at a one or two seed, and robbed offensive tackle Taylor Decker of a two-point conversion. It was just one of a history of game-changing calls that have gone against the Detroit Lions the past 15 years. Here we take a look at last night’s call, and some of the other worst of the worst.
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“Illegal Touching”
Game details: December 30, 2023, vs. Dallas Cowboys (L 19-20)
The Lions drove down the field and with 23 seconds left in the game scored a touchdown to make the game 20-19 in favor of the Cowboys. An underdog on the road, the Lions went for two-points and the win.
Dan Campbell opted for trickery and succeeded in hitting offensive tackle Taylor Decker in the endzone for the go-ahead two-point conversion. Nearly 30 seconds after the play, a flag was thrown on Decker for illegal touching. Despite Decker reporting eligible to Allen just before the play, Allen incorrectly thought that #70 Dan Skipper was declaring himself eligible. Skipper, Decker, Jared Goff, and Campbell all explicitly stated after the game that it was Decker who declared himself eligible. Skipper himself was running onto the field as Decker did so. Campbell told Allen after the flag “I told you,” multiple times referring to a pre-game briefing of the trick play.
The Lions would go on to lose 20-19, and reaction around the country was swift. Scott Van Pelt would spend nearly his entire show following the game covering the call, Rex Ryan was visibly angry in ESPN’s morning coverage on Sunday, and other sports personalities Mike Golic Jr., Adam Schefter, and even Cowboys super-fan Skip Bayless condemned the officials handling of the play.
The call had a significant impact on NFL playoff seeding and Allen’s crew is likely to get demoted and will not call playoff games according to Schefter. It wasn’t the only calls botched by Allen’s crew this year. A non pass-interference call earlier this year likely cost Kansas City against the Packers.
Completing the Process
Game details: Sept. 12, 2010, vs. Chicago Bears (L 14-19)
Jim Schwartz’ tenure had several officiating bad beats, including perhaps the most famous as Calvin Johnson came down with what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown catch with 24 seconds left. Here, we were introduced to an obscure rule at the time, known as “completing the process”.
Now we know that a catch must require control of the ball, two feet or another body part down on the ground and a “football act or move” such as reaching for the goal line or tucking the ball away. It’s still referred to as “The Calvin Johnson Rule” by many.
Thanksgiving Challenge Flag Debacle
Game details: Nov. 22, 2012, vs Houston Texans (L 31-34)
The Lions were a bad team this year, but this was among the more egregious rules that the NFL had ever had. It was the way it played out though that made it so bad. Texans running back Justin Forsett was tackled after an eight yard gain, but not convinced he was down, he kept going to the endzone unchallenged. He was unchallenged because he was pretty clearly down. After the play was called a touchdown, Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz threw a challenge flag out of frustration and admitted post-game he screwed up throwing the challenge flag. By rule the Lions weren’t allowed to challenge the play because all scoring plays are automatically reviewed. The touchdown stood and for an extra “kick us while we’re down” the Lions got a 15-yard penalty tacked on. This rule was changed the following offseason.
The Ten Second Run-Off
Game details: Sept. 24, 2017, vs. Atlanta Falcons (L 26-30)
With eight seconds left in the game, Matt Stafford threw what he thought was the game-winning touchdown to Golden Tate. A review of the play showed Tate was down just inches short of the goal line. The rule at the time was that a 10-second run-off would be enforced because there would have been a running clock, and the referees announced the game was over to an incensed Ford Field crowd. It was a tough one for Detroit, both teams entered the game 2-0 and the Lions missed the playoffs despite a 9-7 record.
Dallas Playoff Game - Pass Interference?
Game details: Jan. 4, 2015, vs. Dallas Cowboys (L 20-24)
Perhaps the most egregious no-call in recent memory not only because of the play itself, but because it was in a playoff game. Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew went out for a pass and a flag was thrown for pass interference only to be picked up.
NFL Head of Officiating Dean Blandino said of the play, “That’s holding,” he said. “There’s no two ways about it. That’s a jersey grab. That’s a foul for holding that could’ve been called.”
While it wasn’t the only reason for the Lions loss in Arlington, which included a blown 14-0 lead, Lions fans still point to it this day.
Trey Flowers Illegal Hands to the Face
Game details: Oct. 15, 2019, vs. Green Bay Packers (L 22-23)
Coming into the game, Lions defensive end Trey Flowers had never committed an illegal hands to the face penalty. This game, he was called for two in a late game scenario, one of which helped set the Packers up for a game-winning field goal.
If it’s any consolation, the NFL later admitted the second hands to the face penalty shouldn’t have been called. It made official Clete Blakeman’s name pretty well known to Lions fans.
Aaron Rodgers Facemask Game
Game details: Dec. 3, 2015, vs. Green Bay Packers (L 23-27)
On the last play of the game, Packers tight end Richard Rodgers pitched the ball to Aaron Rodger who was tacked at he 24-yard line of the Packers. The clock hit zero, and the game was over right? No. Officials deemed that Devin Taylor committed a face mask penalty, which replay showed very little contact with the face mask. The Packers were given an untimed play from their own 39 and won on a hail mary.
Illegal Batting
Game details: Oct. 5, 2015, vs. Seattle Seahawks (L 10-13)
There was something in the air in 2015. In Week 4 , the Lions trailed 13-10 with 6:43 left. A forced fumble on Calvin Johnson led to the ball heading out the back of the endzone, but the ball was batted out of the field of play by Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright. This should have been a penalty on Seattle.
The no call though, gave Seattle the ball and they would run out the clock to win 13-10.
“We'll review all the angles," Senior Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino said after the incident. "On TV it looked like the Seahawks player intentionally hit the ball. That is a foul. The result of the penalty would give Detroit possession enforced at the spot of the fumble. With half the distance to the goal line, Detroit would have had a first down." Later the NFL did confirm this should have beem called.
Ravens Delay of Game
Game details: Sept. 26, 2021 vs. Baltimore Ravens (L 17-19)
Among the more painful games in recent Lions memory, the Lions lost on a 66-yard NFL record field goal as time expired. It wasn’t without controversy as the Ravens snapped the ball prior to that play 1.8 seconds left after the play clock hit zero.
Playoff Hopes Dashed
Game details: Jan. 14, 2023, Seahawks vs. Rams
Entering the final week of the regular season the Lions needed a win by the Rams against the Seahawks, then a win against the Packers that night. The Lions got the latter, but the Seahawks beat the Rams
"The calls benefited the Seahawks, hurt the Rams and ultimately impacted the Lions, who needed Seattle to lose in order to have a chance to claim the NFC’s final wild-card spot.The Lions should be livid,” one source told ESPN. “It was an awful way for them to end their season,” NFL insider Adam Schefter said after the game.
