Week Seventeen: Detroit Lions (11-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (10-5)

[buddha]

11 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

Despite getting jobbed by the refs, and Goff’s two mistakes, this was a great game. Kept Dallas to half their season home field scoring average, even with one of their touchdowns coming on a fluke 92 yard TD pass. Melifonwu had another pick. Hutch heated up. Bring back McNeil, Ceedy Duce, and James Houston for the playoffs and let’s see. 

defense played great, for sure.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Just now, TP_Fan said:

This game has almost nothing to do with the refs.  Nothing.  Decker was ineligible 2 different ways.   The lions had endless chances.  They don’t nothing on offense.  Goff struggled.   That’s why they lost.  

It doesn't ****ing matter. They had a game winning play potentially called back and that's bul****. Yes, Campbell should have taken the tie possibly. But the fact remains they had a game winning play potentially called back and that shouldn't have happened. Why the **** else would Decker be over talking with the ref before the play if he wasn't reporting as eligible. 

You can criticize coaching, that's fine. You can criticize the offensive play, that's fine. But those don't negate that they potentially got jobbed at the end by the refs with a game winning play called back when Decker likely reported. 

[romad1]

1 minute ago, lordstanley said:

My only problem with the 2 point decision was trying a 3rd time. Presumably you’ve already used up your two best play calls by then. 

the strategic play was to end the game quickly and not send your D out for more cycles to potentially get injured before the playoffs.   I understand it even though higher percentage plays seem to be a good idea on the road.  

How they got down the field in the first place was crazy.  Decker reported.  Amon Ra screwed up? 

[lordstanley]

5 minutes ago, TP_Fan said:

This game has almost nothing to do with the refs.  Nothing.  Decker was ineligible 2 different ways.   The lions had endless chances.  They don’t nothing on offense.  Goff struggled.   That’s why they lost.  

They lost by 1 point to a 10-5 team that we are told NEVER loses at home. With a defense that I thought would get lit up holding Dallas to 20 points. Hell, this may have been their 2nd most impressive game all year after the KC game. I feel better about this team’s chances than I did 4 hours ago. Dallas had just as many chances to have won more easily - the first interception, the touchback, passing instead of burning clock, letting the Lions offense go 75 yards in a minute. 

Edited December 31, 2023 by lordstanley

[MichiganCardinal]

Lions won in every place but the records book. **** the refs. **** the Cowboys. **** anybody and everybody who doubts this team.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they make a run to the Super Bowl after this bull****.

Doubt us, I dare you.

[RandyMarsh]

2 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

My only problem with the 2 point decision was trying a 3rd time. Presumably you’ve already used up your two best play calls by then. 

Agree, especially since the Lions defense had shown some ability to stop Dallas not like the Seattle game earlier this year where I wouldn't want to depend on my defense to make a stop at all. 

[MichiganCardinal]

That being said….. it was emotional for MCDC to play for the win after the penalty. The right call was to kick it after the penalty.

Before the penalty? 50/50. I would have kicked it. I get going for it.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

How was your Christmas ref? What the **** else would be be saying to the official other than reporting in as eligible?

Edited December 31, 2023 by Mr.TaterSalad

[Nate7474]

1 minute ago, lordstanley said:

My only problem with the 2 point decision was trying a 3rd time. Presumably you’ve already used up your two best play calls by then. 

Normally I'd agree with you here but in this case the number 1 seed is the only thing that matters and you have to win out.  2 and 3 seeds are both playing with home field advantage and have to win an extra game.  You aren't penalized form your current position if you lose.  You also have one of the worst kicking games and going against one of the best. Overtime doesn't give you better odds of winning the game then a 1 and done play but that's in my opinion. 

Frankly if Goff throws the ball higher and in front of Mitchell he scores so if executed better I think we are celebrating how much guts it took.

[Sports_Freak]

Another classic "refs screw the Lions"

[buddha]

2 minutes ago, lordstanley said:

They lost by 1 point to a 10-5 team that we are told NEVER loses at home. With a defense that I thought would get lit up holding Dallas to 20 points. Hell, this may have been their 2nd most impressive game all year after the KC game. I feel better about this team’s chances than I did 4 hours ago. Dallas had just as many chances to have won more easily - the first interception, the touchback, passing instead of burning clock, letting the Lions offense go 75 yards in a minute. 

technically, they have never lost at home...

just kidding.  to your point, dallas has been destroying everyone at home and averaging 40 points a game (a lot of that via defense), and detroit came in and played them toe to toe.

it was a great effort by them, regardless of a potential ref mistake to blow a game winning play.

[lordstanley]

Remember also, for OT, Dallas has a much better kicker than the Lions. And if all the Lions had managed was a tie after 10 minutes, that would have knocked them out of the 2 seed anyways. 

[TP_Fan]

And why is skipper running to the ref where decker is anyway?  Like why even make it debatable?

[MichiganCardinal]

Pregame!!! Dan Campbell told the officials about this play BEFORE THE GAME STARTED!!!!!!!! AND THEY STILL ***DECIDED**** THAT THE LIONS ****ED IT UP.

I’m beyond disgusted.

[TP_Fan]

By trying to trick the cowboys the lions tricked the refs.  Leaving it in the hands of the officials is always the wrong answer.  

[lordstanley]

Just now, MichiganCardinal said:

Pregame!!! Dan Campbell told the officials about this play BEFORE THE GAME STARTED!!!!!!!! AND THEY STILL ***DECIDED**** THAT THE LIONS ****ED IT UP.

I’m beyond disgusted.

Or does he mean he explained it to Decker pre-game in case the situation arose. 

[romad1]

ESPN were saying this is on Decker for not adequately getting the head ref's attention.  Really.   Get ready for more of this in January.  I hope we destroy so much in the playoffs that this isn't possible. 

[TP_Fan]

1 minute ago, lordstanley said:

Or does he mean he explained it to Decker pre-game in case the situation arose. 

That’s the way I took it. He explained it to the players. 

[MichiganCardinal]

1 minute ago, lordstanley said:

Or does he mean he explained it to Decker pre-game in case the situation arose. 

No I’m positive he means to the officials. Every game, before the game, the officials have a cadence with each head coach. One of the questions they ask is “any trick plays? Things we might not see every day?”

Based off of DC’s response, I am 100% positive he told them to expect this play. And they ****ed it up anyway.

[NYLion]

11 minutes ago, buddha said:

defense played great, for sure.

Hutch was unreal, his best game as a pro. Shame it was wasted but also very encouraging that the defense played well against a top offense.

[romad1]

Will Michigan have to vacate wins because Decker didn't submit his report in triplicate?

[romad1]

I look at this as not SOL.  I look at this as SON and SOD

Same old NFL and Same old Dallas home cooking.

[lordstanley]

9 minutes ago, Nate7474 said:

Normally I'd agree with you here but in this case the number 1 seed is the only thing that matters and you have to win out.  2 and 3 seeds are both playing with home field advantage and have to win an extra game.  You aren't penalized form your current position if you lose.  You also have one of the worst kicking games and going against one of the best. Overtime doesn't give you better odds of winning the game then a 1 and done play but that's in my opinion. 

Frankly if Goff throws the ball higher and in front of Mitchell he scores so if executed better I think we are celebrating how much guts it took.

I don’t really disagree. I was still excited about going for it the 2nd and 3rd time, just not as going ho as I was the second time. 
 

Another point. 23 seconds to go with Dallas having its timeouts and an awesome kicker wouldn’t have been a total gimme. Kickoff, Dallas gets it with 23 seconds to go. Get to the Lions 45 and they probably win it. So 3 enough time for throws downfield, anywhere in the field, to pick up about 35 yards. 

Edited December 31, 2023 by lordstanley

[Mr.TaterSalad]

When the Lions got jobbed at Jerry World in 2014 I wasn't this mad because that picked up flag effected, but didn't directly cost them the game. Tonight, this bad, errant call by the officiating crew potentially, directly cost them the game. In a professional sports league that cannot happen. It is inexcusable that a multi-billion dollar league can allow a human error of that magnitude to cost a team, Lions or otherwise, a game. 

You can complain all you want about coaching, offensive play, Cam Sutton's inability to cover Lamb, whatever. That's all fine and warranted. But the fact remains the Lions potentially won this game and had a rightful, game-winning play called back because of an officials error. The penalty flag was thrown because it was alleged that Taylor Decker didn't report as an eligible receiver. All the other talk about him being uncovered is moot because that's not why the flag was thrown and the points were called back.

This one, singular, egregious call directly cost one team the game. 

Edited December 31, 2023 by Mr.TaterSalad

[MichiganCardinal]

Brad Allen ****ed this up. Zero doubt about it in my mind. The Lions had a designed trick play which worked to perfection. But Brad ****ing Allen ****ed it up. By announcing Skipper instead of Decker.