NFL officiating crew that oversaw controversial Lions-Cowboys ending ‘downgraded’ for postseason

There will be consequences for the officiating flub that marred Saturday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that referee Brad Allen’s crew will be downgraded for the postseason.

“A large part of Brad Allen’s crew is not gonna be officiating in the postseason,” Schefter reported. “They’re gonna get downgraded.”

The Lions appeared to have a go-ahead two-point conversion in the game’s final minute Saturday when quarterback Jared Goff hit tackler Taylor Decker in the end zone for what would have been a 21-20 lead.

But officials threw multiple flags on the play, penalizing Decker as an ineligible receiver and tackle Dan Skipper for an illegal formation. The Lions eventually failed to convert an ensuing two-point conversion attempt, and the Cowboys won 21-19 in an outcome with significant implications for the NFC playoff race.

Lions players and head coach Dan Campbell were furious. Video shows that Decker, Skipper and tackle Penei Sewell all approached Allen before the fateful overturned two-point conversion.

Decker said postgame that he told Allen he was reporting as en eligible receiver. Skipper said that he didn’t speak to Allen. If this was the case, then Decker was eligible and Skipper was lined up in a legal formation on the two-point conversion, and neither flag should have been thrown.

But the officiating crew announced to the Cowboys that Skipper had reported as eligible, making a mess of the whole situation for both teams if Decker indeed had reported as eligible. There was no reason for the Cowboys to cover Decker on the play if he wasn’t eligible.

Referee Brad Allen’s crew oversaw controversy again on Saturday. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In a postgame pool report, Allen insisted that Decker did not report as eligible.

“So, we had a situation where if you were going to have an ineligible number occupy an eligible position, you have to report that to the referee,” Allen said. “On this…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2023-12-31 20:06:20

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