The Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions on Saturday night in a thrilling game between two of the best teams in the NFC. The Lions drove down the field and had a chance to take a lead with a two-point conversion with 23-seconds left in the game, but a successful Jared Goff conversion to lineman Taylor Decker was negated because of a penalty. Or two. The Internet is still trying to sort it out!
“He’s on the end of the line and he’s been playing that ineligible position. So if he’s gonna be on the end of the line and be eligible, he needed to report, as well.” pic.twitter.com/36ZXXgxZA7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 31, 2023
Decker caught his pass, but was called for illegal touching and the Lions failed to convert on two more attempts to take the lead. Initially, the controversy was whether or not Decker reported himself as an eligible receiver to the referee, but a closer look on SportsCenter appeared to show him talk to referee Brad Allen before the play. Or at least try to talk to the ref. Allen then appeared to talk to the Cowboys defense where he apparently only identified #70 Dan Skipper as eligible.
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
So it looks like the Lions’ OL did report to the ref, who then says something to the Cowboys defense.
But it was an illegal formation and ineligible man downfield anyway. pic.twitter.com/FO41pFhF2K
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 31, 2023
There’s even video of Jared Goff appearing to tell Decker to go tell the official before the play.
Goff literally sends Decker over to report.
Gonna need a new story, officials pic.twitter.com/9lUbyQFChV
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) December 31, 2023
As of right now we’re stuck with Decker not reporting despite the fact that he looked like he reported. The only other argument for this to be illegal would be if the player to the left of Decker was also on the line, which he wasn’t.
Whoever is saying he was covered up should stop saying that. He wasn’t. pic.twitter.com/Je0DAMFwpj
— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) December 31, 2023
Only the NFL.
UPDATE: An upset Dan Campbell did not seem happy with the explanation after the game.
“We were going for win.” pic.twitter.com/VtgWgCscVX
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 31, 2023