Dan Campbell admits the Lions were trying to confuse the Cowboys

[atlantacowboy]

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.

Right but why would they think the cowboys wouldn’t know ? The refs literally walk over to the defense and tell them who reported as eligible. It sounds like Dan was trying to catch us sleeping but in that highly charged moment in the game, nobody was ever going to be not paying attention to such things. It was a stupid plan from the get go and then he doubled down. As dumb as his original plan was, the even dumber mistake was going for it again , TWICE!

 

[cald0d30s0]

He could have just run the ball, lol.

 

[Rayman70]

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.

they omit the part where Dan Campbell stupidly went for it AFTER the call was made by the refs. All he had to do was kick the extra point. They hate Dallas.

 

[Kevinicus]

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.

Yeah, but a lot of people are implying it would have been a foul if the refs hadn't messed up (which it is not certain that they did), which is false.

 

[Cowboys22]

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...

They blew the number call as you put it due to the deception on Detroits part. There is no way at all 68 made it clear he was eligible. If he had, he would have been announced. He downplayed himself on purpose while 70 made the hand jesture as he was running in. There simply is no way 68 made it clear he was eligible and the ref just forgot or decide to say 70 instead. Whatever those 3 OL did, the ref interpreted it as 70 was eligible. He did not just decide to announce the wrong player. Detroits whole plan was to deceive Dallas and ended up deceiving the ref as well. Their attempt to cheat bit them in the butt. That’s called getting what you deserve.

 

[G2]

The Lions beat themselves. Multiple times.

 

[jazzcat22]

I don't know who wrote that for PFT, but it did not fool Dallas, nor did it fool the refs. The attempt at trickery or cheating, whatever one calls it failed. Maybe they fooled themselves.

 

[blueblood70]

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.

I agree he had three shots to make the right decision and kicked that field goal that doesn't immediately put it in the overtime though I seen Tony Roma with 11 seconds on the clock hit two passes get us in field goal range and win a game so with our field goal kicker who can probably kick a 65 yarder in great conditions it was not over we would have had about 34 seconds and the way they were covering down field not so great there were still a shot the Cowboys could get a field goal and win that game that game was not the deciding factor with the two points and go back to the ghost tripping call the Cowboys got screwed on that so we couldn't milk the clock this game is what it is it's a Cowboys win without controversy because if you wanna bring up the two points we can bring up a whole bunch of other issues in that game...

There is no* on this game the Cowboys won it fair and square and any lions crying you can blame their head coach and you can blame the rest for calling that ghost tripping call on us when it actually should have been on them gave them a free time out put us behind the chains force us to throw the football instead of milking the clock away... So I really want this to end so we could start talking about Washington and start talking about our playoff seedings...

 

[Surfguy]

70 should have just run to the huddle. Coach told him to run to the ref and fake eligible himself but don't say a word. But, ref was faked out and took him as eligible while 68 was trying to mumble before that "psss...hey...i'm....e...l...i...g...i...b...l...e....but let's keep it on the down-low okay cause we're trying to sneak me back there uncovered because we think they are dopes who will think 70 is the one getting the ball when really i am. okay...we cool? this other guy is here next to me just because he is the other decoy. let's do this!").

 

[MarcusRock]

They could have taken a timeout and corrected the info. Yes, it would have burned a timeout, but it would have avoided the penalty.

They didn't have a timeout.

Don't know if they didn't hear the announcement but if anyone did, they needed to tell Goff to change the play since 68 as eligible didn't register with the refs. They snapped at 0:16 on the play clock so there was time for a quick audible which is not ideal with the game on the line but you always have to have a backup plan.

 

[Rayman70]

He could have just run the ball, lol.

yip...they had been killing us with their 2 backs and they could have ran the ball or simply kicked it. DC was outcoached really.Many will attack me for suggesting this but lets go back to our last drive...yeah MM passed when MAYBE we should have run it, thus run some clock...but he chose to take the fg and extend the lead to 7. Turns out that was the right move. Lets remember, the guys in the booth wanted us to go for it on 4th down and 6. It appeared we were, but we tried to draw them offsides. Then we kicked it. MM did the right thing in that sitch. If he doesnt, and we don't get the first down, we lose this game and I'm confident in that given the way they drove down the field on us. DC beat himself with the help of MM. Not the refs.

 

[CowboyFrog]

There is no question here the eligible reciever TO THE DEFENSE is who the REFS CALL eligible...if you throw it to to another OL who wasn't reported by the refs thats a dumb thing to do on your part..this isnt hard..the defense doesnt have to "Figure out" anything because the rules state the refs report to the defense who is eligible..its that simple. you ran 3 OL at the ref and admitted you were trying to confuse the defense..and then your QB threw it to a OL who was not reported to the D as eligible..sorry thats on your QB and OC/HC...

 

[MarcusRock]

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...

No, you're missing the point. If the number was 68, it wasn't a foul regardless. That's the Lions' point: that the refs botched the number which then made the formation a foul. Had they gotten it right it was whomever executed better.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

This is how silly Dan Campbell coaching was. So you go for 2…..fail with a penalty….ball goes to the 7 and you still go for it…football gods bail you out with Micah going off sides….you had 3 chances to kick the field goal and still refused to.

Let’s say you even hit the 2 point. Now you force Cowboys to win the game with a timeout and 23 seconds and Aubrey as kicker….

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

There is no question here the eligible reciever TO THE DEFENSE is who the REFS CALL eligible...if you throw it to to another OL who wasn't reported by the refs thats a dumb thing to do on your part..this isnt hard..the defense doesnt have to "Figure out" anything because the rules state the refs report to the defense who is eligible..its that simple. you ran 3 OL at the ref and admitted you were trying to confuse the defense..and then your QB threw it to a OL who was not reported to the D as eligible..sorry thats on your QB and OC/HC...

They saw a loophole and tried to take it. It was a risk that failed. I’m not sure what they thought would happen when the red announced the wrong number but I for sure wouldn’t expect the refs to admit a mistake and not throw the flag I hope that’s not what Dan thought.

 

[jazzcat22]

Did anyone listen to Detroit sports talk shows, or read any articles on the fans reactions. About the sequence of events and about Campbell's decisions.

 

[FanofJerry]

The play falls into the category of "if you arent trying every angle, you arent trying"

The play seems kinda pointless since the refs announce who is eligible. But...Dan at least tried something as opposed to nothing by trying to confuse Dallas...so there is that.

If Dan's plan was to test a young group and see if they fall for it...it makes even more sense.

I dont think the play was dirty if just trying to trick Dallas...but if the plan was to fool the refs or shame them into picking up the flag...its kinda smelly.

Overall...Dan did SOMETHING instead of nothing. Glad our team passed the test. Kudos to them.

 

[CowboyFrog]

They saw a loophole and tried to take it. It was a risk that failed. I’m not sure what they thought would happen when the red announced the wrong number but I for sure wouldn’t expect the refs to admit a mistake and not throw the flag I hope that’s not what Dan thought.

exactly, wrong number or not, the eligible OL on the play is who the refs report to the defense..throwing it to another guy is a penalty..period.

 

[Scottishcowboy]

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.

that's the part that annoys me most! If 68 had been declared, we'd have lined up differently, probably no catch, game over but it's being glossed over by the media that it was 2 points lost.

no......it.........wasn't. If Dallas were told 68 was the man, the whole *****ing thing would have played out differently based on Dallas covering 68.

Why on Earth are the media ignoring this KEY part?

 

[Creeper]

Just confirms what I have been saying all week. Campbell wanted the refs to be part of his ruse which is why he went to them before the game to explain the play. There was no need to explain a tackle eligible. But there was a need to explain that 3 guys would go to the ref and only 1 would be eligible. And lets be clear, video shows 70 had his hands up on his jersey number which is a nonverbal signal to the ref that he is reporting as eligible. You cannot blame the refs for what Detroit did.

I think the league needs to modify the rule so that every team is responsible to make it clear and obvious to the ref who is reporting as eligible. There should be no deception of trickery. Players are given certain numbers for a reason and the league needs to maintain the integrity of the jersey numbering scheme.