OT: Lions vs Cowboys

[joober jones]

I'm a long-suffering Lions fan and I was so incensed at the flag pick-up that I was beyond words or actions. All I could do was stare in disbelief.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

There was also a blatant holding call on the 3rd down play right before the TD unless OL are allowed to block by putting a defensive end in a headlock.

 

[uconnbill]

In the first half the Lions had a bunch of calls go their way. It all evens out in the end. Football is always going to have some subjectivity involved; they can call holding every play if they wanted to. Cowboys badly outplayed the lions in the 2nd half.

Okay Cowboy fan.

Detroit should have had the ball on the 34 yard line and then Dez should have been called for a 15 yard penalty and the ball should have been inside the 20 yard line.

Those officials should not officiate another game this post season.

 

[mauconnfan]

There was also a blatant holding call on the 3rd down play right before the TD unless OL are allowed to block by putting a defensive end in a headlock.

Was that the one we all saw when they were showing the replay of a penalty on the d-back? Saw that too, it was right in front of the ref too.

 

[donyell34]

It's about the money. Dallas and Ohio State bring it. Big reason as we know that UNC gets off with no punishment. I personally hate Ohio st. and hope Oregon kicks the crap out of them.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm a long-suffering Lions fan and I was so incensed at the flag pick-up that I was beyond words or actions. All I could do was stare in disbelief.

Your coach has no balls. He's to blame. After the flag he should have said screw it, we're gonna jam it down their throat. Instead, he went with the pathetic "try to draw them off-sides" trick. I knew they were going to lose after that.

 

[tzznandrew]

I've seen nothing serious about this controversy on ESPN. They've merely called it a controversial call and moved on. SI and CBS Sports have both commented and challenged it.

Probably no surprise that ESPN has nothing on it. They aren't a sports news outlet anymore (were they ever?), but a partner and mouthpiece for the organizations they supposedly "cover."

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Was that the one we all saw when they were showing the replay of a penalty on the d-back? Saw that too, it was right in front of the ref too.

I believe so, shoudl have been off-setting and a do-over 3rd, not Dallas with a first down

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I've seen nothing serious about this controversy on ESPN. They've merely called it a controversial call and moved on. SI and CBS Sports have both commented and challenged it.

Probably no surprise that ESPN has nothing on it. They aren't a sports news outlet anymore (were they ever?), but a partner and mouthpiece for the organizations they supposedly "cover."

ESPN writers are usually on the ball a little better than the broadcasters...

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/p...potential-penalties-on-key-lions-cowboys-play

 

[Gampeltiles]

It's not fixed but we do know the NFL is real happy "America's team" is still playing and the NCAA was real happy the "voters" got Ohio State in.

The NFL gets killer ratings, no matter who or what.

 

[mauconnfan]

The NFL gets killer ratings, no matter who or what.

The ratings will be MUCH higher with he 'Boys/Pack than the Lions Pack for sure. The casual fan will watch this one while they wouldn't take a minute of their day to watch the other one other than to check a score inbewtsween a college hoops game. But you are correct, they are still higher than most others for sure.

 

[TimTCT]

I will have to hear from my Cowboy buddies how Romo got redemption. That's funny he looked pretty awful mostly but the same fans who have called him "homo" for years in December will be waving their Romo pom poms all week. The Packers can't score enough points for my liking next week!

YES!!! Let the Hate Flow thru You...

 

[mauconnfan]

Here's a picture-replay of the most important play in the Cowboy's comeback victory:

picture of an nfl penalty flag

 

[mauconnfan]

http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/01/wh...unsportsmanlike-conduct-penalty-on-this-play/

This missed penalty on Dez the Dips**t was also disgusting. How do you allow a player form the sidelines without his helmet to come out that far to argue a call, seriously? They blew this call in a huge way, one of the if not the worst calls/no calls in playoff history.

 

[SixRings]

Here's a picture-replay of the most important play in the Cowboy's comeback victory:

picture of an nfl penalty flag

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac146/sharkhaywood/crying_baby-3.jpg

 

[TimTCT]

http://uproxx.com/sports/2015/01/wh...unsportsmanlike-conduct-penalty-on-this-play/

This missed penalty on Dez the Dips**t was also disgusting. How do you allow a player form the sidelines without his helmet to come out that far to argue a call, seriously? They blew this call in a huge way, one of the if not the worst calls/no calls in playoff history.

 

[SixRings]

It's getting old. It was a bad call, no doubt, but not fraudulent or corrupt . Lions did nothing in the second half. They, rightfully, had no confidence in Prater so they kick a 10 yd punt. They get the ball back and fumble. Dallas did not play well but Detroit played worse. In a tight, playoff game a single FG in the 3rd quarter is simply not enough.

There aren't many playoff wins between Romo and Stafford - it was doubled last night. Someone had to win. I sense all will be put back to normal next weekend when AR is able to flick his wrist for 60 yards.

 

[tzznandrew]

I hate the whole "butthurt" thing after something like this. To leave alone some of the reasons, one of the main ones is that it refuses to deal with the person's actual point, and is an even more childish response than it accuses the complaining person to be making.

Your argument shouldn't be "you're upset because you're butthurt." That's stupid. It should be that, "yes, it was a bad call, but the Lions should have gone for it on 4th and were too cowardly, and that's why they lost."

Sans saying that, you look even worse that the person you are criticizing.

 

[Rico444]

Was nobody paying attention right before Stafford threw the ball when Pettigrew stuck his hand in Hitchens' facemask? It should have been a penalty going against Detroit.

 

[tzznandrew]

Was nobody paying attention right before Stafford threw the ball when Pettigrew stuck his hand in Hitchens' facemask? It should have been a penalty going against Detroit.

That certainly happened...although after Hitchens grabbed his shirt.

There were something like 4 penalties on that play (including the Dez thing) and none of them were called.

 

[TimTCT]

I hate the whole "butthurt" thing after something like this. To leave alone one some of the reasons, one of the main ones is that it refuses to deal with the person's actual point, and is an even more childish response than it accuses the complaining person to be making.

Your argument shouldn't be "you're upset because you're butthurt." That's stupid. It should be that, "yes, it was a bad call, but the Lions should have gone for it on 4th and were too cowardly, and that's why they lost."

Sans saying that, you look even worse that the person you are criticizing.

As much as I appreciate your attempt to interject reasoning into the thread, that would ultimately remove the amusement.

The childish use of the MEME is certainly fitting as this thread is filled with childish replies. To be honest, if you read through all of mauconnfans posts, one would have a hard time understanding what the actual point is? Romo hatred? Dez hatred? Detroit fan? Giants fan? NFL ratings conspiracy?

I agree that the call/no-call is a head-scratcher, but the frustration and focus on things that are beyond ones control can best be described as Generalized Butthurt Syndrome. It typically lasts no more than a day or two. Heck if it wasn't for GBS, someone might actually have to give Dallas credit for winning the game.

 

[joober jones]

Your coach has no balls. He's to blame. After the flag he should have said screw it, we're gonna jam it down their throat. Instead, he went with the pathetic "try to draw them off-sides" trick. I knew they were going to lose after that.

I wish I could disagree, but I can't.

 

[mauconnfan]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story...-missed-vs-dallas-cowboys-lb-anthony-hitchens

'Nuff said. They apologized to the Lions. Not going to help but they blew it, in a big way. An extra Christmas gift for the 'Boys now let's see what they do with it.

 

[Rico444]

That certainly happened...although after Hitchens grabbed his shirt.

There were something like 4 penalties on that play (including the Dez thing) and none of them were called.

Which is why it's stupid to whine about this. Either team could've had a flag thrown on them, and they'd have had a right to be pissed if their guy got flagged but the other didn't.

Probably the fairest thing that could've happened would've been to have offsetting penalties and replay the 3rd down, but pretending that only one side committed a penalty is homerish.

 

[champs99and04]

At least speaking for myself, what was bothersome wasn't that there were missed calls on the play (there were multiple, and at least one dead-ball foul immediately afterwards), but that the entire protocol was botched so egregiously. Let's run through the entire sequence of events:

1. Play unfolds, flag is thrown on what is perceived to be a pass interference by most impartial bystanders (Buck, Aikman, and Perreira all agreed that it was the right call).

2. Dez Bryant immediately charges the field to protest the call, an obvious unsportsmanlike conduct that goes either unnoticed or ignored.

3. The time period in which the officials are presumably supposed to collaborate amongst themselves and overturn the call or confirm it to the head official (who then would announce the call to everybody) elapses.

4. The pass interference call is announced to the crowd, which would seem to indicate the call being made official, and then inexplicably changed just moments later.

Getting the call wrong is one thing. Butchering the procedure to that degree is just a really bad look to the league, to the point that it actually looks shady (I thought the game was otherwise officiated fairly, so I doubt a fix was in, more than likely there was a lapse in communication between guys who don't usually work together). This isn't human error, it's guys who, for at least that game, were really bad at their job. Suspending the guilty parties for the remainder of the postseason seems like a fair punishment.

 

[Rico444]

At least speaking for myself, what was bothersome wasn't that there were missed calls on the play (there were multiple, and at least one dead-ball foul immediately afterwards), but that the entire protocol was botched so egregiously. Let's run through the entire sequence of events:

1. Play unfolds, flag is thrown on what is perceived to be a pass interference by most impartial bystanders (Buck, Aikman, and Perreira all agreed that it was the right call).

2. Dez Bryant immediately charges the field to protest the call, an obvious unsportsmanlike conduct that goes either unnoticed or ignored.

3. The time period in which the officials are presumably supposed to collaborate amongst themselves and overturn the call or confirm it to the head official (who then would announce the call to everybody) elapses.

4. The pass interference call is announced to the crowd, which would seem to indicate the call being made official, and then inexplicably changed just moments later.

Getting the call wrong is one thing. Butchering the procedure to that degree is just a really bad look to the league, to the point that it actually looks shady (I thought the game was otherwise officiated fairly, so I doubt a fix was in, more than likely there was a lapse in communication between guys who don't usually work together). This isn't human error, it's guys who, for at least that game, were really bad at their job. Suspending the guilty parties for the remainder of the postseason seems like a fair punishment.

Morell made the call before the refs got together to talk about the call. Keeping in mind that none of these refs worked together all season, is it really that surprising that the communication was poor? Not to say that the refs handled the situation well, but I'm sick of hearing that the fix is in for the cowboys by the tinfoil hat crew. I know you didn't say that, but it wasn't in the least bit shady, especially since the cowboys had calls go against them in the 1st half.

 

[mauconnfan]

Morell made the call before the refs got together to talk about the call. Keeping in mind that none of these refs worked together all season, is it really that surprising that the communication was poor? Not to say that the refs handled the situation well, but I'm sick of hearing that the fix is in for the cowboys by the tinfoil hat crew. I know you didn't say that, but it wasn't in the least bit shady, especially since the cowboys had calls go against them in the 1st half.

The "fix" wasn't in Rico most know that's crazy - they got handed a really bad call and the Lions were somewhat robbed. And you would have to look at it from the Lions side too because if you want to find something every play you can , especially against the other team. #77 on the Cowboys pulled people down 3-4 times without a call, so I am sure the Lions fans could find a few too and say they were screwed even prior. There is only one call that was significant and we are talking about it. The rest is just football. The Cowboys got the best of the deal and handled it well, made plays. The Lions on the other hand gagged, stopped playing the way they got ahead. The defense hardly blitzed coming down the stretch, which amazed me because Romo looked awful under pressure but they sent 3, maybe 4 at the most the last couple of possessions. And they didn't go for the 1st down after the debacle by the refs - coaches make their make at times like that and Caldwell had his chance and blew it. Parcels, Bellichek no way they punt - no way!

 

[Rico444]

There's a pretty clear angle out there that shows Pettigrew grabbed the facemask of Hitchens on the same play, so I'm not buying that the Cowboys were handed a gift. Agreed on your other points, although the pressure in the first half came from the Lions only sending 4 or 5 on the rush, just disguising who was coming - in the 2nd half, we handled it better. Bottomline, Caldwell didn't have the stones to go for it 4th and 1, and Garrett did, and that's what really turned the tide IMO.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story...-missed-vs-dallas-cowboys-lb-anthony-hitchens

'Nuff said. They apologized to the Lions. Not going to help but they blew it, in a big way. An extra Christmas gift for the 'Boys now let's see what they do with it.

They also admit that the refs blew the Personal Foul call in Bryant, too. Blowing two big penalties on the same play against the same team is mind boggling. Completely changed the game. Still, it is over. This ref team should never see the field again.

Favorite line though was the following:

"Blandino was also asked about his presence on a Cowboys party bus in August and perceptions that he is biased toward owner Jerry Jones' team.

He said the bus incident is something that "happened," but it has nothing to do with how Sunday's game was officiated.
"People can believe what they want to believe, but one thing had nothing to do with the other," he said."​

I wonder if Gov. Christie was on the bus too taking down his home address for future 'traffic studies' should certain calls go against the Cowboys.

 

[SixRings]

They also admit that the refs blew the Personal Foul call in Bryant, too. Blowing two big penalties on the same play against the same team is mind boggling. Completely changed the game. Still, it is over. This ref team should never see the field again.

Favorite line though was the following:

"Blandino was also asked about his presence on a Cowboys party bus in August and perceptions that he is biased toward owner Jerry Jones' team.

He said the bus incident is something that "happened," but it has nothing to do with how Sunday's game was officiated.
"People can believe what they want to believe, but one thing had nothing to do with the other," he said."​

I wonder if Gov. Christie was on the bus too taking down his home address for future 'traffic studies' should certain calls go against the Cowboys.

Blandino didn't make or retract the DPI call and was not near the play, it was the head linesmen. Morelli was the idiot that screwed it up. But I'm sure Blandino used his super referee powers he acquired on that bus to make that punt go 10 yards, cause the two sacks of Stafford, have Witten catch that ball on that fourth and six play for a conversion and have the Cowboys complete two other third down conversions on that same drive.
There were 125 offensive plays between Dallas and Detroit, and the Cowboys were the better team, even with a missed 41-yard field goal. They converted more third downs, plus two fourth downs, and turned the ball over fewer times. Detroit had a chance to bury Dallas early in the second half and didn’t. There was 8:25 left in the game after that call. I copied a little of Greg Bedard there.
Yep, although they had plenty of chances to do something about it the Lions were victims of a conspiracy. I get it.