Speaking to reporters following the game, head coach Dan Campbell was clearly frustrated, as evidenced by the look and tone of his voice. Dan Skipper, a tackle, was so incensed that he refused to speak with reporters save to clarify that he was not listed as an eligible receiver on the play that could have won the game but was nullified by a penalty.
With twenty-three seconds remaining, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown scored on an 11-yard touchdown, and Campbell decided to go for two points and the lead. With just 27 seconds remaining, the Lions believed they had taken a 21-20 lead when quarterback Jared Goff hit left tackle Taylor Decker on a ball in the back of the end zone. However, the referees ruled that the Lions had engaged in illegal touching since Decker had never been listed as an eligible receiver.
Video footage of Decker approaching Referee Brad Allen before to the play indicates that he reported as eligible following the game. He did not report as eligible, according to Skipper.
After the game, Goff stated, “Pretty confused.” “What I do know is that Decker reported and Dan Skipper did not, however I’m not sure if I’ll be fined for this. And yes, they did claim that Dan Skipper did. Thus, it’s regrettable.
Detroit had two more chances to score from two points, but they were unable to do so after two incomplete passes.
Campbell claimed that he discusses possible trick plays with the officials prior to the game, which is what infuriated him after the game.
In the pregame, “I explain everything to a T,” Campbell declared. “I did that.”
Following the game, Allen stated the following in a postgame interview with PFWA pool reporter Calvin Watkins:
“There was a circumstance where you had to notify the referee if an ineligible person was going to take an eligible position. Number 70, who had reported a few times during the game, informed me that he was eligible on this specific play. Next, he took his place at the tackle position.
In actuality, he was spared from reporting altogether. The player who ultimately went downfield and touched the pass, number 68, failed to show up. As a result, it is a foul since he is ineligible to touch a pass that crosses the line.
Aidan Hutchinson, a defensive lineman, has likely been a touch frustrated that despite his relentless pressure on quarterbacks this season, he hasn’t racked up many sacks.
Pro Football Focus ranked Hutchinson ninth among edge defenders going into Saturday night’s game. In terms of overall pressures, he came in third, trailing only Micah Parsons (97) and Nick Bosa (88). Hutchinson only has eighteen QB hits, while Bosa has nineteen. Only Parsons’ 65 hurries are greater than Hutchinson’s 63. Hutchinson, however, entered the game with just 6.5 sacks, whilst the other players had double digit sacks.
