Dan Campbell admits the Lions were trying to confuse the Cowboys

[Kevinicus]

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

It was only illegal based on 70 being eligible. If it was 68 instead, it was legal.

 

[LandryFan]

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!

Your last sentence sums up the situation perfectly!

 

[stiletto]

The Lions better start worrying about beating their first round opponent. If it is the Rams, that probably won't be a walk in the park.

 

[MarcusRock]

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..

You're absolutely right. You don't throw a pass to an ineligible guy you wanted to be eligible. The refs botched it. Campbell still maintains that 68 reported. The Lions also didn't appear to have a backup plan or nobody heard that 70 was announced and ran the play anyway. They didn't have a timeout but they snapped the ball with 0:16 left on the play clock which was more than enough time to bail on the play but I think a quick snap was part of the ruse to confuse the defense and have them panic.

 

[Praxit]

..they finally beat it out of him.. lol..

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

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.

It did. They weren’t

 

[FanofJerry]

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!

All of this.

 

[dfense]

NFL network arguing this morning that it made no difference which player reported. As if not dedicating a player on defense to cover a non-eligible player matters.

 

[SiCk_DiAbLo]

What gets me that they tried the 2 pointer 3 times, kick the FG...

 

[CowboyFrog]

The whole reason for the ref calling who is elegible is so the defense knows..regardless of what confusion took place the defense did the right thing... Just like if Dak did this Goff is responsible for running a play knowing it will be illegal touching..period. The refs called 70, as the QB you dont just throw it to 68 knowing he is not elegible...you call tripping on the correct team (this was much more blatant) this situation isnt even in play.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

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.

no, the ref didn't call the wrong player. if it was, then Detroit would have corrected them. the problem is Detroit tried to pull a fast one and they failed. if 68 was eligible and called by the ref and he scored the way he did, I would be screaming at Quinn and the defense not the refs. this was not a referee issue. this was a detroit issue.

 

[Cowboys22]

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..

70 came running in motioning that he is eligible so the ref announced him. Actually it has been reported that the league has sided with the ref and says Detroit attempted deception.

 

[mrmojo]

If 68 was announced eligible the play would have been legal but then the Cowboys would have had someone covering #68......that's the main point i believe.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

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!

Yes. This, plus they didn't object when they announced that wrong player eligible. They could have taken a timeout and corrected the info. Yes, it would have burned a timeout, but it would have avoided the penalty. Of course, then the Cowboys would have know that 68 was eligible, and he would be covered, but that screws up their dirty little plan. The plan was for him to be uncovered because the Cowboys thought him ineligible.

 

[Rayman70]

It was only illegal based on 70 being eligible. If it was 68 instead, it was legal.

but but but if if if . Bottom line is, it was a foul. We stopped them when needed, won the game. Time to move on from the clown show.

 

[The Quest for Six]

70 came running in motioning that he is eligible so the ref announced him. Actually it has been reported that the league has sided with the ref and says Detroit attempted deception.

Can some of you people stop and think for one second, if 70 was the eligible yet he never went up to the ref, the video is clear, he goes up to 68, the ref is already heading towards the defensive after talking to 68, 70 never gets within 5 yards of the ref, he nebver motioned anything and stated he didn't go to the ref after the game, he didn't run a pattern and lined up illegally if he's the eligible, yet 68 who left the huddle and went up to and was in the refs face motioning with his arms talking to the ref, the video shows that, what do you think he was doing, asking the ref what he's doing after the game for drinks??? 68 lines up on the end, he runs a pattern and catches a pass,, duh he was the eligible one, not 70 who didn't leave the line of scrimmage....the ref blew the number call, it's really that simple, common sense, end of story...

 

[Rayman70]

If 68 was announced eligible the play would have been legal but then the Cowboys would have had someone covering #68......that's the main point i believe.

yip. But it wasn't. It was a foul. I been hard on the refs this year, rightfully so...and even though they missed a blatant tripping and called it on US, they got this call right. Maybe the number was wrong, but it was a foul nonetheless. Dan Campbell lost them the game, not the refs. "On to Cincinatti" lol...

 

[Rayman70]

Yes. This, plus they didn't object when they announced that wrong player eligible. They could have taken a timeout and corrected the info. Yes, it would have burned a timeout, but it would have avoided the penalty. Of course, then the Cowboys would have know that 68 was eligible, and he would be covered, but that screws up their dirty little plan. The plan was for him to be uncovered because the Cowboys thought him ineligible.

exactly right, and it puts a nail in the coffin of that game.

 

[Rowdy1]

This makes his last two plays even dumber..........I mean once you see it didn't work, why not be smart, tie the game, and go to overtime?

I was at the game and Detroit fans were screaming "Kick the FG!!!" It was absolutely the dumbest thing I have ever seen. you tried 2 pt it failed you get another shot you take the tie and go into overtime. The way both teams were playing I think it was the Lions best shot at a W.

 

[jazzcat22]

better yet send us home, put us out of our misery!!!!

What is wrong with you?