Adam Schefter breaks down implications of Lions’ controversial loss to Cowboys

With one controversial call on a potential game-winning two-point conversion, the NFC playoff picture changed dramatically for the Detroit Lions (11-5).

With a win over the Dallas Cowboys (11-5), the Lions would have locked up, at worst, the No. 2 seed in the NFC with another win next week, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. If Detroit had won Saturday and next week, and if the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) lost one game, the Lions would have secured the No. 1 seed.

But that was before the call — the call which catapulted the Cowboys to a 20-19 victory at AT&T Stadium. Detroit is now expected to be the No. 3 seed and would need significant help to move up. Translation: If the Lions are going to advance to the Divisional Round and face the NFC East winner, they will likely have to go on the road to play that game.

The two-point conversion, which occurred with 23 seconds remaining in the game, was flagged by the officiating crew for illegal touching after Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker hauled in the pass from quarterback Jared Goff. Per referee Brad Allen, Decker did not report as eligible before the play — fellow offensive tackle Dan Skipper did. Allen directly disputed Detroit’s side of the story, in which head coach Dan Campbell, Skipper and Decker said that it was he [Decker] who reported eligible before the play — not Skipper.

NFL referee Brad Allen explains controversial ending to Dallas Cowboys-Detroit Lions game

“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 particular play, number 70, who had reported during the game a couple of times, reported to me as eligible. Then he lined up at the tackle position. So, actually, he didn’t have to report at all. Number 68, who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul. So, the issue is, number 70 did report; number 68 did not.”

Just before the play, an overhead camera shows Decker walking over to the official to report as eligible as instructed to do so by Campbell. Allen claims it was Skipper whom he had the conversation with, though on video, Skipper is running onto the field as Allen wraps up his brief conversation with Decker.

“That conversation is where number 70 reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team, and I say to them ‘Number 70 has reported as an eligible receiver,’ so they will be aware of who has reported, and then I return to my position,” Allen said. “That was the conversation with the defensive line.”

The controversial call resulted in a Lions loss and left the entire team confused, especially Campbell, who said he explained the play to the officials before the game to avoid confusion.

“Don’t want to talk about it,” Campbell said after the game. “I explained everything pregame to a tee, OK? I did that.”