Controversy Shadows Cowboys Last Second Win Over Detroit

ARLINGTON— Controversy will always mark the game when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions, 20-19.

The Cowboys, now 11-5, allowed the Lions, also 11-5, to drive the length of the football field after kicking a field goal to put them up 20-13 with under two minutes to play. After the Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught an 11-yard touchdown pass with :23 seconds remaining, the Lions went aggressive and decided to go for two-points to take the lead.

Here’s the controversy as two offensive linemen were talking to the official, Brad Allen, another offensive lineman came running up to him, apparently to report as an eligible receiver. Why several offensive linemen were talking to an official before a play is anyone’s guess as the official then announces that player as an eligible receiver.

Allen announced that number 70, Dan Skipper, was the eligible receiver and it is even said in an announcement throughout AT&T Stadium. Then the Lions snapped the ball, quarterback Jared Goff threw the ball to number 68, Taylor Decker, who was on the end of the line in an eligible position, but he, according to Allen, did not report as eligible. A flag was thrown for illegal touching that wiped the Lion’s two-point conversion off the board and backed them up five yards.

Again, Decker and offensive tackle Penei Sewell were speaking with Allen prior to the play when Skipper came running out to the official.

Why three offensive linemen were talking to the official before a trick play when it was going to be announced who the eligible player was is anyone’s guess.

The Lions again lined up to go for two, which ended in an interception by the Cowboy’s linebacker Markquese Bell. Only this time, All-World linebacker Micah Parsons was offsides.

Sidenote: Micah Parsons has gone 52 full quarters of football without drawing one holding penalty. That’s 13 games.

Anyway, the Lions line up for a third time for a two-point conversion, which Goff underthrew to his tight end who did not catch the ball.

With :23 seconds left, the Cowboys recovered the kick and knelt out the game.

Of course, all this controversy would not have been possible if the refs made the right call at the two-minute warning. Then, the Cowboys were driving down the field and at the 29-yard line, tight end Peyton Hendershot was called for tripping, which upon review, it was actually the Lions’ defensive end Aiden Hutchinson who tried to trip the Cowboys’ player. But this set the Cowboys back to first and 25 and the Cowboys ended up settling for a field goal that put them up seven points.

At the end of the day, the Lions had three chances to just kick a field goal and have a really good chance at an overtime win. The Cowboys’ kicker, Brandon Aubrey, has been good from 60-yards out this season so there was no guarantee the Lions win the game if they make the two-point conversion anyway as Dallas could have driven the ball into field goal range.

Also, the NFL makes just under $19 billion a season and does not have full time referees.

The Cowboys need a win next week against the Washington Commanders to have three 12-win seasons under head coach Mike McCarthy.