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Dean Blandino says officials blew non-call against Cowboys in NFC Wild Card game

By Josh Hill

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) argues a pass interference call with side judge Allen Baynes (56) that was called on linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) argues a pass interference call with side judge Allen Baynes (56) that was called on linebacker Anthony Hitchens (59) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Less than 24 hours after the infamous non-call against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card, Dean Blandino has admitted there should have been a flag thrown. 

The NFC Wild Card game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions came down to a blown call that sparked conspiracy theories and largely helped the home team move on to the NFC Divisional playoffs.

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The controversy stems from a flag that was thrown and then picked up that ended up benefiting the Cowboys in a big way. What seemed to be a text book definition of pass interference at the most and defensive holding at the least, ended up as a non-call on the field and forced the Lions into a fourth-down situation which led to a series of miserable events for Detroit.

On Monday, NFL Head of Officiating Dean Blandino appeared on Mike Floiro’s Pro Football Talk Live show and was asked about the non-call that everyone can’t stop talking about. While Blandino did say that pass interference not being called was the right thing to do, a defensive holding penalty should have been called instead.

This raises so many questions it’s hard to keep track of them all, but one thing that someone is probably wondering is why Dean Blandino — the head of officiating — saw a blown call as it happened but couldn’t do anything about it. This wasn’t a random penalty that went on to be irrelevant in the gander scheme of the game — it changed the game and helped the Cowboys win.

Detroit’s season is over based largely on this missed call, which the NFL is basically saying ‘our bad‘ on.

Defensive holding wouldn’t have given the Lions the same field position as pass interference, but it would have been a first down that extended their drive. There’s no saying what would have happened next, as Matthew Stafford could have very well thrown an interception as much as he could have a touchdown. A field goal would have done the Lions little good in the final score that ended up happening, as the series of events after the flag was picked up are to random to consider with any sort of credibility.

All we do know for certain is that a missed call changed the course of an NFC Wild Card game, and it’s a controversy that will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

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