NFL referee Brad Allen is under fire after making a contentious call during Saturday’s Week 17 game between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys. As the issue becomes more prominent, his officiating record is being scrutinized and critiqued.
Brad Allen Dooms Detroit Lions Against Dallas Cowboys
For those who may have missed it, the NFL referee is under intense scrutiny for his decision to penalize the Lions with an illegal touching call late in their match against the Cowboys. The controversial call came after Jared Goff attempted a two-point conversion pass to offensive lineman Taylor Decker with only 23 seconds remaining in the game. If successful, the play would have given the Lions a 21-20 lead over the Cowboys and possibly led to a victory. Unfortunately, the penalty nullified the play.
The referee, Allen, based his decision on the fact that Decker was not reported as the eligible receiver in the play; instead, offensive tackle Dan Skipper was reported as eligible. Despite the referee announcing this on the field, the Lions argue that Decker did report, while Skipper did not. Many have criticized Allen for the costly error, with fans and experts sharing video evidence supporting the Lions’ claims. The prevailing belief is that Allen became confused about who reported, leading to a significant mistake that deprived the Lions of a potential victory.
the evidence is in
a crime was committed
a Lions win was stolen in plain sight
refs are pure trash pic.twitter.com/VErRjxxMCZ
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 31, 2023
Allen has defended his decision, asserting that Skipper was the one who reported to him, not Decker. Nevertheless, the Lions could not conceal their disappointment over the incident. Head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff expressed frustration and heartbreak after the game, with Goff particularly emphasizing how disheartening it is to lose a game they believed they had won.
Brad Allen’s History of Officiating Mistakes Goes Viral
Amid the heightened attention surrounding Brad Allen due to recent controversies, numerous fans and media figures are pointing out the referee’s track record of officiating errors or, at the very least, contentious decisions and non-calls.
In light of the current issue, ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared a December article outlining how Allen’s officiating team was facing scrutiny for failing to make a call on an obvious and potentially game-changing pass interference incident during the Kansas City Chiefs-Green Bay Packers matchup. Schefter also highlighted in the same piece that Allen’s crew overlooked a defensive pass interference call in a November game.
Another call from the Brad Allen crew: https://t.co/T7lh3tzDMl
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2023
Furthermore, Schefter shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) illustrating how Brad Allen neglected to call a roughing penalty that resulted in the Chicago Bears losing a field goal. As Schefter previously mentioned, NFL referees undergo evaluation for every play in every game, and these evaluations play a significant role in improving officials’ performance and determining playoff assignments.
Given the unfolding events, it seems likely that Brad Allen and his crew will face further communication from the NFL regarding their officiating. It remains to be seen what the NFL will say about the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys and the overall performance of the referees, creating anticipation among fans.