Lions robbed in Lambeau: Packers steal win due to referee negligence
The Detroit Lions were good enough to beat the Green Bay Packers but they weren’t good enough to beat the Packers and the referees.
The Lions fell prey to the zebras.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stole a win from the Lions to improve to 5-1 and stay in first place in the NFC North. They got an assist from the referees who called a pair of phantom hands to the face penalties on Trey Flowers that led to 10 points from the Packers and a 23-22 win.
The Lions were cruising to what looked like their third win of the year and entering the discussion as NFC North and playoff contenders. Instead, the Lions were victimized by some egregious officiating that went against them. The inexcusable blown calls marred the end of the game and it could cost the Lions a playoff spot.
What “hands to the face” looks like
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 15, 2019
From a punt to a TD, all because of the refs. Just disgusting. pic.twitter.com/K2ho1fBFEy
Meanwhile, Rodgers was almost beside himself after this theft after the game. There is something to be said for getting the calls at home, especially when you’re the Packers, and especially when you’re playing the Lions.
But the first hands to the face call on Trey Flowers on third down kept the drive alive. Two plays later, Rodgers threw this absolute dime to Allen Lazard to give the Lambeau Field crowd a reason to cheer.
On the ensuing possession, the Lions needed points to respond to that score. Just when it looked like the Lions would benefit from a call, the referees dropped it by not dropping a flag. The league is trying to be better at calling pass interference but must have had their eyes closed on this one.
First pic: illegal hands to the “face” penalty to keep a drive alive after a third down sack.
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) October 15, 2019
Second pic: not pass interference.
Hey but they’re trying their best out there. pic.twitter.com/Iecs6SzGXr
The missed call ended the Lions drive and they had to punt to Rodgers who you knew was going to find a way to get into field goal range. That is unless the Lions pass rush can get to him and stop the drive. That’s what happened when Flowers beat Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari but was flagged for illegal hands to the face again. It can’t be illegal hands to the face if the hands don’t make contact with the face
GTFOH pic.twitter.com/irgK1acrrQ
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 15, 2019
The Packers would have had to kick a 31-yard field goal with 1:45 left on the clock. Even if Mason Crosby drills the dick, the Lions would have had plenty of time for Matthew Stafford to connect with Kenny Golladay (5-121) for a chance at their own game-winning field goal.
Alas, the referees didn’t let that happen as the trend of inexcusable officiating marred another game. NFL media and fans were just as lost as Booger McFarland and Joe Tessitore on the Monday Night Football broadcast.
Let’s just start with the Hall of Famer himself, former Lions running back, Barry Sanders who voiced his displeasure with the officials. You know when the soft-spoken Sanders speaks up, it’s time to address the sorry state of referees in the NFL.
That is sickening... the @NFL needs to look at a way to prevent that from happening. Two phantom hands to the face calls really hurts us tonight. Yes, we could have scored TDs, but @Lions played too well to have the game end this way. #DETvsGB @espn
— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) October 15, 2019
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) October 15, 2019
There needs to be an explanation about this. You can’t make that call TWICE and nothing comes of it. That’s embarrassing.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) October 15, 2019
Wow two phantom illegal hands to the face calls on the same guy in the same game.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 15, 2019
Just outrageous. Just outrageous. That was outrageous.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) October 15, 2019
Man and we thought college refs were bad... this has completely ruined the game
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 15, 2019
The NFL changed all its replay rules to avoid impacting games and they just handed the Packers a game.
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 15, 2019
Lions might miss the playoffs over this.
Incredible. This is thievery. pic.twitter.com/VONyd2ZNZ6
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 15, 2019
I agree Booger. Flowers puts his left hand on the shoulder pad. Let these lineman play. Please!
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 15, 2019
NFL. Put someone in a position somewhere who can call down and fix these immediately. This isn't hard. It's really not. #FREECommonSense
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 15, 2019
Terrible.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 15, 2019
Lions deserved better.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 15, 2019
It’s a multi billion dollar busy & u get this kind of nickel & dime type of officiating. Almost as bad as the Saints/ Rams game. Could determine a playoff spot.
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) October 15, 2019
The referees are destroying the NFL game by game. It’s a shame because of how much work is put in and to have games literally won or loss by bad calls in crucial situations. #sendembacktofootlocker #MNF #NFL
— Matt Forte (@MattForte22) October 15, 2019
NFL fall owners meetings start tomorrow. Officiating and replay have to be at the top of the agenda. Look for some kind of change to come out of these meetings. Status quo won't fly.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) October 15, 2019
Final: Packers 23, Lions 22.
— Detroit Free Press (@freep) October 15, 2019
Lions blow a 13-point lead, settle for 5 field goals and have multiple blown calls go against them but, on the bright side, in 5 billion years the sun will swell into a red giant, vaporize the Earth and obliterate all evidence of this game happening
Credit the Packers for making the plays to get the win, but also expect the NFL to send a memo out in the next few days that they missed a few calls late in the game.
Unfortunately, Detroit won’t get the benefit of a do-over.