Wildcard Controversy

The Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys Wildcard Game was definitely a nail biter for both teams. The Lions have struggled to make the playoffs the past few years due to their strong division rival, the Green Bay Pakcers, so they needed to play a competitive game. The Lions couldn't have scripted a better start on both offense and defense, but they struggled the second half. What really hurt the Lions included a handful of third and fourth down conversions by the Cowboys in which surprised a lot of people - credit to Dallas for hanging in there tight. What ultimately killed the Lions and raised many eyebrows was the reversed pass interference call against TE Brandon Pettigrew late in the fourth quarter.

I'm tired of hearing people say, "oh the Lions would have lost anyways" or "the call didn't even matter." This call totally shifted momentum toward the Dallas Cowboys, especially playing at home. It was without a doubt the worst call I have ever seen in a huge playoff game like that - in any sport. Talk about home cookin. The fact that the refs actually announced the penalty on the stadium's jumbotron and moved the ball to where it was suppose to be just baffles me. If the call stood, the ball would have been spotted at the Dallas 29 yard line. It would have been first down for the Lions with at least a 46 yard field goal attempt. What bothers me even more than the ref's flag pick up is when none of the refs flagged Dez Bryant for running ten yards onto the field with no helmet. Former referees said they would have called a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty without question. If both penalties were called at such a critical point in the game, it would have been first down in the red zone at the Dallas 14. Both penalties should have obviously been called - but even if only one of the penalties stood, the Lions still would have been first down with at least a 50 yard field goal attempt.

Hypothetically, if the Lions settled for a field goal after one of those penalties stood they would've only been down by one point on the final drive, even after Dallas scored their final touchdown. If the refs didn't blow the pass interference call and the Lions had to settle for just a field goal, the Detroit Lions could have at least attempted a game winning field goal assuming the score was 24-23 (also assuming all of the in-game circumstances played out the same). The Cowboys game winning drive wouldn't have played out the same because we come to find out that the NFL admitted to missing another penalty in a very important time in the game. Before Dallas scored their final touchdown, on the fourth and long pass to Jason Witten, Ndamukong Suh was blatantly held. This holding penalty, in which the NFL has already admitted to, would've totally forced the Cowboys out of field goal range and then would likely be forced to punt, likely losing the game.

Matthew Stafford Mic'd Up - 2014 Wildcard Game

2015 Playoff Run: Wildcard Game