Dan Campbell admits the Lions were trying to confuse the Cowboys

[32BellyOption]

They need to get over it.

I hope we’re the ones to send them home this year.

That would be fitting. And up by multiple scores late in the game run the old “tackle eligible play” just to salt the wound.

 

[Staubacher]

The old 3 shell game....

3 Guard Monty

 

[The Quest for Six]

Please don’t. The botched tripping call is the only reason they were in a position to be confused. Plus 70 ran over late. In my opinion, the confusion was 70 had been eligible all night and the ref just botched the numbers. They botch numbers all the time.

Exactly, 100% correct....68 left the huddle, went right up to the ref and reported, the ref seen 70 running onto the field and thought 70 was reporting since 70 reported numerous times in short yardage plays during the game, the ref screwed up the call with the wrong number.....68 stated he reported to the ref, 70 stated he never reported to the ref on that play..

 

[Rayman70]

Dan Campbell is squarely to blame for that loss.

bingo. Its time for the conspiracy theorists on TV to turn the page now.

 

[Cowboys22]

I'm shocked by the media not looking at it objectively (or maybe I shouldn't be).

They tried to trick the Cowboys but ended up confusing the ref................straight out of Bill Bellicheats playbook.

Ok, I get it, the refs screwed up, no-one is saying otherwise but the Lions cost the Lions the game with their attempted "grey area BIll B cheating".

If the refs had got it right and either challenged the Lions OR called 68, then the Cowboys would have been told at the line and not left 68 alone, he'd have been covered for the play.........why are the media not saying the play would have ended up completely differently based on Dallas covering 68 if they'd known?

And don't get me started on the tripping call.

No, the refs didn't cost the Lions the game, the ref nearly cost the Cowboys the game and that 2pt would never have been a factor anyway!

The ref did not screw up. There is no way in hell 68 made it clear to the ref he was eligible but the ref said 70 instead by mistake. The whole thing was designed to create confusion and the ref interpreted it as 70 was eligible. Once Detroit snapped the ball after 70 was announced, it was illegal touching and illegal formation. All Detroit had to do was play by the rules and run the play and their would be no controversy. They decided to try and cheat the spirit of the rules and the refs didn’t let them. They got what they deserved.

 

[Cowboys22]

Exactly, 100% correct....68 left the huddle, went right up to the ref and reported, the ref seen 70 running onto the field and thought 70 was reporting since 70 reported numerous times in short yardage plays during the game, the ref screwed up the call with the wrong number.....68 stated he reported to the ref, 70 stated he never reported to the ref on that play..

No 68 said he did what the coaches told him to do which was be low key and create confusion. 70 came running in jesturing that he was eligible so the ref announced him. They set out to create confusion by design and outsmarted themselves. The ref did what he is supposed to do and didn’t participate in the deception.

 

[G2]

The National meltdown now that Dallas got a call is just amazing.

 

[Proximo]

I think it’s honestly such a dumb concept for a “trick” play.

So the whole idea was to have #70 report as eligible throughout the game, and then at the very end switch it to #68 to surprise the Cowboys and catch them off guard.

But the referee has to announce who reported as eligible anyway, which then negates the “trickery”. It’s so dumb on Dan Campbells part-
Either the ref announces #68 as eligible and the Cowboys account for it and he’s likely not open in the end zone, or it confuses the ref and we end up with what happened Saturday night.
Campbell must’ve thought he was so slick and clever coming up with this, lol.

 

[Vandyr]

there you go. they admitted to it. they may have also confused their own players.

Every NFL team does this. The problem here is that the Ref called the wrong player. I'm all about the Cowboys winning, but this was just lame. If the situation were reversed, and this had happened to the Cowboys instead, costing them the game, everyone here would be up in arms.

 

[The Quest for Six]

No 68 said he did what the coaches told him to do which was be low key and create confusion. 70 came running in jesturing that he was eligible so the ref announced him. They set out to create confusion by design and outsmarted themselves. The ref did what he is supposed to do and didn’t participate in the deception.

the film shows otherwise..70 never went up to the ref as he stated post game, 68 left the huddle and is right in the face of the ref swiping his jersey and as Aikman pointed out post game, 70 lined up at guard making it an illegal formation, I think Detroit knows how the play was running, you wouldn't line up at guard if you're the declared eligible and the fact the league immediately demoted the crew after the game is a clear indication the ref botched the number call..

 

[Rayman70]

The ref did not screw up. There is no way in hell 68 made it clear to the ref he was eligible but the ref said 70 instead by mistake. The whole thing was designed to create confusion and the ref interpreted it as 70 was eligible. Once Detroit snapped the ball after 70 was announced, it was illegal touching and illegal formation. All Detroit had to do was play by the rules and run the play and their would be no controversy. They decided to try and cheat the spirit of the rules and the refs didn’t let them. They got what they deserved.

exactly. DC got too cute for his own good and lost the game. Then what many forget is, the defense stopped them down there several times. But somehow its being blown out of proportion. We won the game fair and square. The Lions were gifted chance after chance and foolishly, DC chose to gamble every time. He lost. Lets credit the team and MM. Our coach outcoached DC. Thats a fact. MM chose to kick the fg on our final drive, thus making the Lions need to score 7 to tie us. It was smart. He didn't gamble. It turned out to be the reason why we won but many in here never will credit the guy for anything. Sad really. 12 wins 3 years in a row is a big deal in the NFL. Like MM or not.

 

[Staubacher]

Every NFL team does this. The problem here is that the Ref called the wrong player. I'm all about the Cowboys winning, but this was just lame. If the situation were reversed, and this had happened to the Cowboys instead, costing them the game, everyone here would be up in arms.

I'm up in arms about a Lions player tripping Pollard and our team being penalized for it.
That is a more obviously egregious blown call.

Pollard gained 7 yards plus 15 would have been added and 1st down and clock keeps running. Game over.

 

[Rayman70]

it was an illegal formation . John Parry even said it during the broadcast. The refs could have taken their pick of foul to call.

 

[Rayman70]

I'm up in arms about a Lions player tripping Pollard and our team being penalized for it.
That is a more obviously egregious blown call.

Pollard gained 7 yards plus 15 would have been added and 1st down and clock keeps running. Game over.

exactly.But the media is silent on that. I wonder why? lol

 

[pentatwirl]

Just to unpack this a little more, Campbell ‘s plan was to hope Dallas would be watching who was reporting rather than listening to the officials. Great plan Dan!

I think it’s honestly such a dumb concept for a “trick” play.

So the whole idea was to have #70 report as eligible throughout the game, and then at the very end switch it to #68 to surprise the Cowboys and catch them off guard.

Yea, the whole #70 thing seemed too cute by half. Might have been a better ruse to just do the 58/68 angle with 58 reporting all night except on the 2 point play, and then lining up and motioning in a way to draw attention like he did.

 

[jterrell]

The NFL rule is put in place to avoid confusion.
Refs have to announce to the defense the eligible man.
Dallas is a young LB corps and I can see the idea here, but it goes against the spirit of the NFL rule.

 

[Proximo]

If the situation were reversed, and this had happened to the Cowboys instead, costing them the game, everyone here would be up in arms.

Respectfully disagree on this point.
If the situation were reversed I think the dominant opinion and narrative - at least here on CZ - would be that McCarthy is an unrivaled bonehead for coming up with such a lame brain “trick play” as that one, and then for doubling down and going for the two point conversion not once but twice after the trick play blew up in his face.
CZ would be calling him a laughingstock.

 

[Rayman70]

The Lions were easily driving,scored, THEN refs assisted them. Then they got cute and it cost them.

 

[MarcusRock]

Well, Campbell is a moron. He just confirmed it. Why would the cowboys think anyone other than who the officials tell them is eligible ? It makes no sense and was ill conceived. The play only worked bc they threw to someone who the cowboys knew wasn’t an eligible receiver.

Just to unpack this a little more, Campbell ‘s plan was to hope Dallas would be watching who was reporting rather than listening to the officials. Great plan Dan!

Because in the heat of the moment this team panics. Just taking the play in question, 70 was announced and Bell took responsibility for him. After the line shifted and 70 got covered up, he is then ineligible, yet Bell stayed with him when he didn't need to. Had Goff heard the error, he should have thrown to the RB in the flat who only had 1 man to beat to the pylon because Bell was focused on 70 when he could have actually helped on a play like that. Just an example of how players get confused trying to process too much and you can take advantage. I loved the idea by Campbell but the refs botched it. It's the chance you take.

 

[MarcusRock]

Respectfully disagree on this point.
If the situation were reversed I think the dominant opinion and narrative - at least here on CZ - would be that McCarthy is an unrivaled bonehead for coming up with such a lame brain “trick play” as that one, and then for doubling down and going for the two point conversion not once but twice after the trick play blew up in his face.
CZ would be calling him a laughingstock.

As well as saying the refs "intentionally" mixed up who reported. Come on now. You grossly underestimate the freakout here.