TO WIN THE Super Bowl, legendary coach Bill Parcells once said, you have to have a lot of luck and the Dallas Cowboys sure rode theirs last night to win the final NFL Wild Card game of the weekend.
With the Detroit Lions leading 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter, Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was rightly flagged for pass interference on Brandon Pettigrew on a crucial third down.
It was as obvious a pass interference call as you’re likely to see. To begin with, Hitchens makes no attempt to play the ball and instead pushes Pettigrew with his left arm. The push stopped the tight end from being able to make a play on the ball.
Even before that, there was defensive holding as Pettigrew is clearly having his jersey pulled as he attempts to break away from Hitchens at the line of scrimmage.
Sickeningly for the Lions, they were twice penalised for defensive holding on the Cowboys very next drive, one of which came on a crucial third down. Four plays later, Dallas would score the game-winning touchdown.
Had the pass interference been missed by officials, Lions fans would understandably be frustrated but missed calls – such as holding by offensive linemen – happen all the time.
No, instead the officials, led by Pete Morelli, flagged Hitchens for the foul and announced it over the stadium mic. However, after some chatting, they picked up the flag but failed to explain on the field why they reversed their decision.
Even more infuriating for the Lions, while the officials were chatting, Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant entered the field without his helmet on to argue the case for picking up the flag.
Here's Dez Bryant, helmet off, on the field arguing with the official after that flag. pic.twitter.com/4dx69sZ9nx
That is also a penalty, a 15-yard one that should have given the Lions a first down at the Dallas 31 yard line.
Now, I’ve watched enough of the Lions to know there’s every possibility they could have gone three and out had they received a first down from any of those three clear penalties and there’s even no guarantee Matt Prater would have kicked the ensuing field goal.
Even if he had, a touchdown for the Cowboys would have still won them the game. Crucially though, they would have had significantly less time to score it in.
After the game, Morelli said that – when they talked it out – the officials decided that no penalty had been committed by Hitchens with the back judge feeling he was guilty only of face-guarding which is a flag in college football but not the NFL.
All of the evidence and, indeed, common sense, shows they were wrong and, for a neutral, it was an unpalatable finish to what was otherwise a great game of football, by far the best of a relatively poor Wild Card weekend.
Bad calls happen – hi Tuck rule – that’s part of football, but making the right call and reversing it under pressure from the home crowd should never be.
Were the Lions likely to go on an win the Super Bowl? It’s highly unlikely. But should they be taking on the Seahawks next week in the NFC Divisional round? On the basis of last night’s performance, all but the most rabid Dallas fan would say yes.
Brandon Wade / AP/Press Association Images
Brandon Wade / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Sometimes though, it’s better to be lucky than good.
Well said Steven. Disgraceful refereeing by the officials. What made it worse was seeing Jerry Jones, Chris Christie, etc high-fiving their way around the buffet table afterwards.
But they got a terrible roughing the passer call against them. Hitchens should have been done for PI though so agree overall. Having said that, Romo hasn’t had much luck in the playoffs so is probably due some.
Swings and roundabouts,would have also been a disgrace if Detroit won after Suh played a blinder when he should have been banned.Seahawks,Packers,Pats and Broncos will battle out the Superbowl pairings and it will come down to Seattle and New England.
Suh went through the appeals process and had his punishment reduced to a fine. Please explain how going through due process and having a reduction correctly made is a disgrace?!?
While this is a shocking video and I agree with the sentiment that he should never have been on the bus of a teams owner, this happened before the season started and not the night before the game.
I acknowledge that now….I read this originally on the NFL Facebook page comments and the poster had it transcribed as a recent event, still….it’s a faux pas for anyone with anything to do with officiating get involved with a team, any team.
No wonder this story resurfaced after last night.
At least the lions are very pragmatic about the loss….one bad call from the refs can’t cover up their failure to hold their lead, stop the cowboys on 4 and 6 or stop their winning drive at all.
The call was wrong, absolutely. But the Lions decision making thereafter is what really cost them.
Their 4th down conversion rate is impressive to say the least (joint highest in the league I think). Should have gone for it on 4th and 1. The subsequent punt was one of the worst I’ve seen all season – if not ever. They were only slightly better off than if they had gone for it and lost it.
At this stage of the season, it’s that level of decision making that separates those competing in the playoffs from the teams making up numbers.
Bad call yes. But their reaction doesn’t merit a shot at the Seahawks next weekend.
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Well said Steven. Disgraceful refereeing by the officials. What made it worse was seeing Jerry Jones, Chris Christie, etc high-fiving their way around the buffet table afterwards.
Agreed; a few disgraceful decisions there. I guess “America’s Team” is better for ratings or something
But they got a terrible roughing the passer call against them. Hitchens should have been done for PI though so agree overall. Having said that, Romo hasn’t had much luck in the playoffs so is probably due some.
Absolute bullsh*t last night. Cowboys’ last TD was scored by the refs and that PI call was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Lions were robbed.
Swings and roundabouts,would have also been a disgrace if Detroit won after Suh played a blinder when he should have been banned.Seahawks,Packers,Pats and Broncos will battle out the Superbowl pairings and it will come down to Seattle and New England.
Suh went through the appeals process and had his punishment reduced to a fine. Please explain how going through due process and having a reduction correctly made is a disgrace?!?
That’s what happens when the VP of officiating is seen stumbling off the Cowboys “party bus” the night before.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/08/07/nfl-official-dean-blandino-jerry-jones-party-bus
While this is a shocking video and I agree with the sentiment that he should never have been on the bus of a teams owner, this happened before the season started and not the night before the game.
I acknowledge that now….I read this originally on the NFL Facebook page comments and the poster had it transcribed as a recent event, still….it’s a faux pas for anyone with anything to do with officiating get involved with a team, any team.
No wonder this story resurfaced after last night.
At least the lions are very pragmatic about the loss….one bad call from the refs can’t cover up their failure to hold their lead, stop the cowboys on 4 and 6 or stop their winning drive at all.
The call was wrong, absolutely. But the Lions decision making thereafter is what really cost them.
Their 4th down conversion rate is impressive to say the least (joint highest in the league I think). Should have gone for it on 4th and 1. The subsequent punt was one of the worst I’ve seen all season – if not ever. They were only slightly better off than if they had gone for it and lost it.
At this stage of the season, it’s that level of decision making that separates those competing in the playoffs from the teams making up numbers.
Bad call yes. But their reaction doesn’t merit a shot at the Seahawks next weekend.
Nice little “tuck rule” dig there again. Let it gooooooo.
Go Seahawks!