For those who missed it, the controversy started with 23 seconds left in the game after Amon-Ra St. Brown caught a Jared Goff pass and drove for the touchdown to cut the Cowboys’ lead to 20-19. Detroit had the option to go for the tie with a field goal or for the win with a two-point conversion.

Dan Campbell and Co. chose the latter and had offensive lineman Taylor Decker line up as an eligible receiver. The strategy seemed to succeed after Goff threw a pass to Decker to complete the conversion for the lead.

The Lions were already celebrating the score, having thought that they have the game in the bag. But referee Brad Allen threw two flags, one for an illegal touching penalty and another for illegal formation.

Allen claimed that it was Dan Skipper (no. 70) who reported as the eligible receiver in the play and not Decker (no. 68). As a result, there was an illegal touching penalty because Decker shouldn’t have been the one to catch the ball. As for the illegal formation, since Skipper reported as eligible, he shouldn’t have been covered up during the coverage.

The Lions refuted Skipper’s report, stating that Decker was the only one to do so. Talks that the referee mispronounced the names began, despite the fact that camera replays showed Decker and Skipper approaching the official.

Nevertheless, the penalty resulted in the Detroit Lions’ score being waived off. Ultimately, the Dallas Cowboys managed to secure a crucial touchdown and deny their opponents the victory.

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers Blames ‘Cheap’ NFL

Sure enough, Aaron Rodgers is not happy with what he has seen from the game. The New York Jets quarterback expressed belief that Brad Allen was at fault, noting that the referee left before a proper report for eligible receiver was made.

Video replays of the incident showed there’s clearly a miscommunication because Taylor Decker reported, although the presence of two other players near the referee likely caused the confusion as well.

Despite that, though, Rodgers said that officiating needs to be better.

“I was part of the Fail Mary when the NFL got too cheap to pay the refs what they’re due,” Rodgers said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the end of the Lions game and there needs to be some accountability. It seemed like Brad Allen left before what could be said.”

Rodgers went on to say that only the greatest officials should officiate games of this nature since they carry such significant postseason ramifications.

“As players, we are aware of the best referees, and in the playoffs, they ought to be the best,” he continued.

In any case, the league just published a document outlining the correct way to report eligible receivers, rather of attempting to enhance officiating and hold referees more responsible.

Indeed, it appears that the league is placing more of the blame on teams and players than on the officials.

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