WATCH: “Refs need to be investigated” – Replay showing Lions player alerting referee of eligibility on crucial play against Cowboys has fans raging
On Saturday, the Cowboys defeated the Lions after a controversial penalty.
Taylor Decker seemingly notifies the referee (Images via X)
On Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys, led by their star quarterback, Dak Prescott, managed to defeat the Detroit Lions in their Week 17 game. However, the controversial ending to the game became a talking point on social media, and fans started debating it on social media.
During the final seconds of the game, the Lions managed to score a touchdown to cut the lead down to one point. Instead of going for an extra-point kick, the Lions opted to try the 2-point conversion to put some pressure on the Cowboys. In their first attempt, Lions quarterback Jared Goff successfully completed a pass to his offensive lineman, Taylor Decker, who was wide open in the endzone.
However, the 2-point conversion was negated after the referees threw a flag called an illegal touching penalty on the offensive lineman. The Lions eventually failed to score on their third attempt and the Cowboys ended up winning the game. At the time, it was assumed that the Lions failed to report to the referees about using an offensive lineman as an eligible receiver.
However, new footage from a fan perspective shows three offensive linemen, including left tackle Taylor Decker and right tackle Penei Sewell, seemingly alerting the refs about Decker being an eligible receiver. Check out the footage of the incident attached below.
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….
pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
Moreover, during the post-game interview, Decker himself said that he reported to the refs just like his head coach, Dan Campbell, asked him to do so before the snap. A different video also shows quarterback Jared Goff alerting Decker to notify the refs and Decker walking toward an official.
So, it seems like Decker did notify the officials about him being an eligible receiver for that snap, but the referees still called a penalty on the Lions, leading to the Detroit-based football team suffering a brutal loss in their crucial Week 17 game.
NFL fans, especially Detroit fans on social media, were enraged by the referees’ seemingly poor job in Saturday’s game between the Cowboys and the Lions.
(Image via SI)
Fans started accusing the officials of favoring the Cowboys. The Eagles fans were also mad since the victory kept the Cowboys in the NFC East division title race.
Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
WE GOT EM pic.twitter.com/E0ogXlFCK0
— Blake Newsom (@NewsomSportsATL) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it sure looks like Taylor Decker went over to the refs.
I don't know what else he's telling them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
Nonetheless, the Lions ended up suffering a brutal 20-19 loss and fell to an 11-5 record. Next, they are scheduled to face the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 18 matchup next Sunday.
