Referee Brad Allen has stuck to his landmark decision to give the Detroit Lions victory on Saturday night, but videos on social media have cast doubt on his claims that Taylor Decker did not check in with him before the game.
Allen ruled that offensive lineman Decker was not an eligible receiver when he caught a 2-point conversion pass that would have given Detroit a one-point lead over the Dallas Cowboys with 23 seconds left.
According to NBC Sports, Allen claimed that Decker had to report to him to make himself eligible, but he did not do so, adding that only Dan Skipper had done this.
However, the Lions maintain that Decker did that and the video on
Lions coach Dan Campbell, visibly furious after the game, also said he told the officiating crew about the play during a pregame meeting.
Referee Brad Allen has made his controversial call at the end of Lions vs. Cowboys opened
Footage on social media appears to show Taylor Decker reporting to him before the late play
ESPN showed the overhead camera angle before the 2-point conversion and it appears Taylor Decker went to the officials.
I don't know what else he tells them….pic.twitter.com/bGvH3kyJzD
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 31, 2023
“So we had a situation where if you wanted an ineligible number to take an eligible position, you had to tell the referee,” Allen explained.
“On this particular action, No. 70, who had reported a few times during the match, reported that he was eligible. He then lined up at the tackle position. In fact, he didn't have to report at all.
'No. 68, who eventually went to the field and touched the pass, did not report. Therefore, if he touches a pass that crosses the line and commits a foul, he is ineligible. So the problem is that No. 70 did report; No 68 not.'
ESPN footage via an overhead camera appeared to show Decker reporting to Allen before the play.
“In that call, No. 70 reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team and I say to them, 'No. 70 has come forward as an eligible recipient, “so they know who has come forward, and then I'll go back to my position,” Allen said. “That was the conversation with the defensive line.”
A furious Campbell said after the match: 'I don't want to talk about it.
'I'll explain everything in detail before the match, okay? I did that. 70 reported (according to Allen), 68 did not. We threw it at 68. That was the explanation.”
Decker also insisted he reported to Allen on ESPN's overhead camera footage.
Lions coach Dan Campbell was absolutely furious with Allen's decision-making late in the game
Decker took the catch for a two-point conversion where the Lions would have led the Cowboys
“The only thing I want to say about it so I don't get myself in trouble is that I did exactly what the coach told me to do,” the Lions man said.
“I went to the referee and said, 'Report.' I also understand that Dan (Campbell) is bringing up the possibility of these types of plays before the game.
“I did what I was told and did it the way we did it all week in practice. That's all I want to discuss with it.'
Quarterback Goff made Detroit's case as officials discussed what to call.
“Very confused,” Goff said. 'What I do know, and I don't know if I will be fined for this, but I do know that Decker has filed a report. I do know that Dan Skipper didn't know that. I do know they said Dan Skipper did that.”
The Lions are now 11-5 with one regular season game remaining against the Vikings on January 7.
The Cowboys, who held on to beat the Lions 20-19, finish with the Commanders.