OT: Lions vs Cowboys

[DarthGrumpy]

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.

I did not say conspiracy at all outside of my dig against my home state Governor. The same politician who overturned a state law in 2012 that allows the Governor ONLY to accept 'gifts.' Such as these to attend NFL playoff games 1,500 miles away flying a private jet though NJ taxpayers still have to pay for his security detail so that he could kiss GOP PAC donors for his likely presidential campaign.
All I said is that the refs royally screwed-up this entire play and should never ref a NFL playoff game again. The NFL has to start making refs accountable for their on-field performance just like everyone else.

As for the game itself. It needed to be decided on the field by the players and coaches, not inept referees. The best case for Dallas if the rules were followed, the contact between Hitchens and Pettigrew on the pass would have offset; but the dead ball PF penalty on Bryant would have counted and it would have been Detroit 1st down at the Dallas 31 instead of 4th and 1 at the Dallas 46. Big difference, especially as the following drive was the game winning one for Dallas. From the Dallas 31, conservatively, Detroit would have taken 2+ minutes to run 3 plays without a 1st down and kicked a field goal from about 35 yards out (Detroit already hit a 39 field goal earlier in the game). Dallas would then had had the ball with about 6 minutes left down by 6 and needs a TD (more pressure that just a field goal to tie) from their 20 (3 of Detroit’s kick-offs resulted in touchback, 1 was a squib kick end the 1st half & 1 was returned to the 20, thus assuming from the 20). Plenty of time to score; but, a whole different scenario. Of course, if the both penalties were applied, it would have been Detroit with the ball and a first down at about the Dallas 15 (PI to the 29 plus the PF ½ the distance). Under that scenario, likely looking at a Detroit TD instead of a Field Goal with Dallas getting the ball back down by 10 with 6 minutes left.

Could have the Cowboys still won under either scenario? Yes. But, we will never know because the refs screwed-up so badly thus the conspiracy theories.

 

[tzznandrew]

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.

No conspiracy. Incompetence.

But with a DPI or a Personal Foul on Dez, the Lions are further in the field, have another first down (and third down conversion), and likely score a FG (up 6) or a TD (up 10). They also kick off, so Dallas doesn't have the same field position from the shanked punt.

Those missed calls absolutely played a role in the outcome. That's beyond a doubt.

BUT Detroit still could have won after it, but screwed up.

 

[Sonofabeach]

If I were a Detroit fan I would be beyond furious at not only that, but the number of times the Dallas O line was allowed to tackle guys before they could get to Romo with no call. Saw at least 3 of those. The announcers even commented on a couple. I just don't know how you pick up a flag after you've talked about, announced it and moved the ball. The announcers and rules expert were all astonished.

I don't know if there's a conspiracy theory or just really bad officiating, but in either case, Detroit was robbed of a chance to settle it 11 on 11.

I am not saying that was the wright call to pick up the flag, but just wanted to show how bad the officiating was on both sides... like the call for running into the kicker was called on Dallas and the Dallas player hardly touch him and the kicker flops to the ground. "Bad Calls on both sides"

 

[Deadrody]

Blandino didn't make or retract the DPI call ...

Don't bother quoting anything. Blandino addressed the situation on the NFL Network

The alleged unsportsmanlike call is discretionary, not mandatory. The only time having your helmet off is a factor is when you were already on the field of play and you REMOVE your helmet.

And here's a vine of the facemask grab that shows the contact made by Hitchens that was the only thing about the play that would necessitate a pass interference call was to dismount Pedigrew's hand from his facemask.

The bottom line is that bad calls - even if this WAS one - happen. How many times has this come up on this forum regarding the officiating in a UConn game ? Blaming the officials is whining. Get over it.

One thing that Blandino makes clear is that the only one that can pick up the flag is the official that threw it. After consulting with another official with a different view, that's exactly what he did.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

And here's a vine of the facemask grab that shows the contact made by Hitchens that was the only thing about the play that would necessitate a pass interference call was to dismount Pedigrew's hand from his facemask.

What about the pretty obvious hold on Dallas before the PI? Any mention of that?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

The alleged unsportsmanlike call is discretionary, not mandatory. The only time having your helmet off is a factor is when you were already on the field of play and you REMOVE your helmet.

Alleged? No, it happened. He was 10 yards deep onto the field, without a helmet, yelling at the referees, on a defensive Dallas play while he plays offense.

http://video.businessinsider.com/8da34ca8-8af8-4691-b8fb-0f8fa1e63b5e.mp4

I don't know the exact rule; but, in 2013 in a regular season game versus Minnesota at Dallas, Bryant was called for offensive PI and then had a meltdown, took his helmet off and argued with the referees and got immediately flagged for 15 yard PF call. Announcers called it 'automatic' once the helmet came-off. At least Bryant was on the field for the play.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-...6/Bryant-gets-unsportsmanlike-conduct-penalty

How he did not get flagged in the playoff game makes no sense as running onto the field to argue a call with the ref is a penalty in almost all sports - Red Card in soccer, ejection in baseball, 5 minute major and ejection in hockey, technical foul and ejection in basketball. If the NFL fines Bryant later, the NFL will have admitted that this crew lost complete control of the situation here.

 

[mauconnfan]

What about the pretty obvious hold on Dallas before the PI? Any mention of that?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...s-missed-cowboys-holding-suh-on-crucial-play/

Hold? Thats a blatant tackle.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...s-missed-cowboys-holding-suh-on-crucial-play/

Hold? Thats a blatant tackle.

NFL fessed up to that one.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...ssed-holding-dallas-cowboys-fourth-conversion

Not sure it is the one I saw (it was on the same drive) where I saw Suh, who I feel should have been kicked out of the NFL by now, was in a choke hold. Overall, adds more fuel to the fire. I don't believe in a conspiracy theory here; but the incompetence may have cost Detroit the game. That is not acceptable. The NFL needs to step forward and address the quality of the referees and someone must be held accountable, just like the players are.

 

[Rico444]

NFL fessed up to that one.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...ssed-holding-dallas-cowboys-fourth-conversion

Not sure it is the one I saw (it was on the same drive) where I saw Suh, who I feel should have been kicked out of the NFL by now, was in a choke hold. Overall, adds more fuel to the fire. I don't believe in a conspiracy theory here; but the incompetence may have cost Detroit the game. That is not acceptable. The NFL needs to step forward and address the quality of the referees and someone must be held accountable, just like the players are.

Next time you watch an NFL game, pay attention to the battle in the trenches for a few drives. You'll see holding on almost every play.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Next time you watch an NFL game, pay attention to the battle in the trenches for a few drives. You'll see holding on almost every play.

Very true; but, if I remember this play correctly, this was a one-arm headlock. Holding would be an understatement.

 

[Rico444]

Very true; but, if I remember this play correctly, this was a one-arm headlock. Holding would be an understatement.

Ok...? That stuff happens all the time and doesn't get called. I guarantee you the lions did the same thing a few times in that game; in fact, one cowboys fan on another board posted a bunch of screencaps of our guys being held. It happens on both sides.

 

[mauconnfan]

Ok...? That stuff happens all the time and doesn't get called. I guarantee you the lions did the same thing a few times in that game; in fact, one cowboys fan on another board posted a bunch of screencaps of our guys being held. It happens on both sides.

Problem is the NFL is only apologizing for these 2 mistakes by the team, no others.

Hey Rico, you're guys are still playing this weekend and my guys aren't. Good luck, nothing you can do about what happened Sunday anyway right? Everything will be forgotten if they come out of GB with a W.

 

[mhshuskies]

If the Lions got robbed it is just deserts for dirty players that are too chicken * to even admit to being on the field thugs!

 

[mauconnfan]

If the Lions got robbed it is just deserts for dirty players that are too chicken * to even admit to being on the field thugs!

Good one!

 

[Rico444]

Problem is the NFL is only apologizing for these 2 mistakes by the team, no others.

Hey Rico, you're guys are still playing this weekend and my guys aren't. Good luck, nothing you can do about what happened Sunday anyway right? Everything will be forgotten if they come out of GB with a W.

The NFL reviewed those two plays because the Lions complained about them. The Cowboys had no reason to complain, obviously, since they won the game.

Yeah bottomline, we had some things break our way with the refs. Either one of those calls could have been made, but weren't. The fact that there are lots of plays where you can say that is my only real point here. There is no conspiracy to help the Cowboys, as evidenced by the NFL's decision to overturn Suh's suspension. Just glad my team came out on top, and hope Sunday's game is a little cleaner, win or lose.