A second penalty controversy has emerged from Saturday’s Cowboys-Lions game, with this one hurting Dallas.
Before the Lions were hurt by a dubious penalty that wiped out a game-winning two-point conversion, Cowboys tight end Peyton Hendershot was called for tripping on a run by Tony Pollard instead of Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who stuck out his leg in an attempt to trip Pollard, video showed, as ESPN reported Sunday.
The Cowboys were up 17-13 and starting a drive at the Lions’ 29-yard line with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter after intercepting Jared Goff, but the penalty on Hendershot pushed them back to Detroit’s 44-yard line at the two-minute warning.
That prevented Dallas from being able to run more clock.
Instead, they got back to the Detroit 25-yard line on three passes and Brandon Aubrey kicked a 43-yard field goal with 1:41 left, allowing the Lions enough time to drive down the field.
After the Lions went 75 yards in 1:18 to score a touchdown, offensive lineman Taylor Decker caught a pass from Jared Goff on a two-point try that would’ve put Detroit ahead 21-20 with 23 seconds left, but Decker was flagged for illegal touching because the officials deemed him an ineligible receiver.
However, video showed Decker reporting to referee Brad Allen before the play.
The Lions ultimately failed to convert the two-point try and lost, 20-19.
Allen claimed to a pool reporter after the game that Lions lineman Dan Skipper was the one who reported as eligible.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he gave officials a heads up about the trick play before the game.
The loss was costly for the Lions as they’re in the running for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, while the Cowboys are trying to win the NFC East over the Eagles.
ESPN reported Allen’s officiating crew “is expected to be downgraded,” potentially hurting their chances of being given a postseason assignment.
Allen and his crew previously came under fire for failing to call roughing the passer on Za’Darius Smith for a late hit on Bears quarterback Justin Fields in Week 15, and also not calling pass interference against Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine for contact made on Chiefs receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in Week 13.
