Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, confessed that the outcome of their Week 17 game versus the Detroit Lions was “convoluted.” He did, however, voice his conviction that Dan Campbell’s guys are partly to blame for what happened.
To recap, the Lions lost to the Cowboys 20-19 after a contentious penalty ruling cost Detroit a game-winning two-point convert. Apparently, there was some uncertainty about who the eligible recipient was, which resulted in the surprising turn of events.
What Happened in the Dallas Cowboys-Detroit Lions Referee Fiasco?
The sequence began following the Lions’ touchdown, courtesy of a Jared Goff pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, narrowing Dallas’ lead to 20-19 with only 23 seconds remaining. Faced with the opportunity to either tie the game with a field goal or secure a win with a two-point conversion, the Lions opted for the latter. For this play, an offensive lineman needed to be designated as an eligible receiver.
Although Taylor Decker was supposed to report, referee Brad Allen mistakenly believed it was Dan Skipper. Consequently, Allen informed the Cowboys of the declared eligible receiver, creating confusion. When the Cowboys lined up, Decker positioned himself to receive, while Skipper adopted a different stance with coverage, constituting an illegal formation since he declared as the eligible receiver.
Despite Decker successfully catching the pass for the extra two points, it was promptly nullified. Two penalties were issued— one for illegal touching on Decker and another for Skipper’s illegal formation, as clarified by Allen post-game. Despite the Lions still having an opportunity to win, the Cowboys thwarted their efforts.
https://twitter.com/SharpFootball/status/1741317533238493483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1741317533238493483%7Ctwgr%5E3cebb9e2ea506cf32cc0de9082f5fc8245519e7e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgridironheroics.com%2Fdallas-cowboys-jerry-jones-week-17-issue-detroit-lions%2F
The Lions and their fanbase were incensed by the incident. The team contested that Skipper did not report; instead, it was Decker all along, a claim supported by video replays. The controversy led to widespread criticism directed at referee Brad Allen and his officiating crew, with even New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers blaming the NFL for the referees’ perceived lack of accountability.
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Speaks Out
Jerry Jones, however, holds a distinct perspective on the issue. Despite the potential bias due to his team benefiting, he raised compelling points.
In the widely circulated online video of the incident, it’s noteworthy that Taylor Decker, while reporting as an eligible receiver, was alongside Penei Sewell. The video also showed Dan Skipper running towards the referee instead of the huddle.
These actions created the impression that Skipper was the one reporting. Whether the Detroit Lions intentionally orchestrated this to confuse and deceive the Cowboys is uncertain. Nevertheless, their failure to clarify to the referee who the eligible receiver was ultimately backfired.
Jones underscored this in his recent radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan, stating, “I can’t believe the convoluted way that we ended up winning that game. But let me put it like this: The defensive team is supposed to know who the eligible receivers are. Anything you do to fuzz that up can get fuzzy for you,” as reported by Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
This perspective adds an interesting layer to the discussion, often overshadowed by criticism directed at the referees. While improved communication from both sides could have mitigated the situation, Detroit’s actions initially sparked the confusion that ultimately led to their downfall.
Leave a Reply