Week 17 is just two games in, but one play will set the tone for the rest of the season.
The overturned two-point conversion dominated headlines on Saturday as the Detroit Lions fell to the Dallas Cowboys 20-19.
With 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, following a late Jared Goff touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions head coach Dan Campbell bravely decided to go for a two-point conversion. It was successful, as Goff’s ball was caught by offensive lineman Taylor Decker.
However, it was ruled out since Decker had been touched illegally. Let’s try to dissect everything:
1. Prior to the play, Goff dispatched Decker, a lineman wearing number 68, and fellow lineman Dan Skipper, a man wearing number 70, to head referee Brad Allen to report the action so that Decker might be considered an eligible receiver. Moreover, the play’s creation was unlawful since the referees declared that No. 70, not No. 68, had reported. The play would have stood if the numbers had been switched, as the Lions contended, because Josh Reynolds, who was next to Decker, stood off the ball and was in the correct alignment.
2. Allen informed Campbell that No. 70, not No. 68, had reported following the flag. During the news conference following the game, Campbell stated that he reviewed the play with the officials “to the tee.”
3. While Decker claimed to have reported to the referees following the game, Skipper claimed not to have done so. Decker said that it was to his comprehension. Before the game, Campbell gave a rundown of the play.
4. Following the game, Goff stated that Decker had reported while Skipper had not. Goff added that it was still a mistake and not a referee fix.
5. In the pool report that Allen made with Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins following the game, Allen persisted in claiming that No. 70, not No. 68, was the one who reported.