WATCH: Furious Dan Campbell refuses to talk about ref’s controversial call derailing Lions’ game-defining two-point attempt against Cowboys

In the pool report, referee Brad Allen stood firm in his statement that Taylor Decker had not reported but Dan Skipper had.

WATCH: Furious Dan Campbell refuses to talk about ref’s controversial call derailing Lions’ game-defining two-point attempt against Cowboys

Frustated Dan Campbell refused to talk about ref's controversial call (Via X)

This Saturday, the NFL witnessed one of the most chaotic finishes in its history, resulting in the Detroit Lions‘ narrow 20-19 loss against the Dallas Cowboys in week 17.

Late in the fourth quarter, with 23 seconds remaining in the game, the Lions went on with the jugular and formed a two-point conversion. Quarterback Jared Goff connected with offensive tackle Taylor Decker for the two-point conversion and successfully brought his team to a 21-20 lead. But for a mere moment.

YouTube video

As the officials reviewed it, Decker was called for an illegal touching penalty, leading to a five-yard penalty, and they reported him ineligible. After Decker’s catch was disallowed, QB Goff tried another attempt but ended up with an interception.

FS Video

During the explanation, quarterback Goff claimed he was certain that Decker was reported as the eligible receiver and not Dan Skipper. Contradictory to which, in the pool report, referee Brad Allen stood firm on his statement that Decker had not reported but Skipper did. As the Cowboys denied the 2-point attempt by the Lions, the game ended with their victory by 20-19.

In the post-game interview, frustration could be seen in head coach Dan Campbell‘s eyes and words, as he was furious at Allen but refused to talk about the controversial conversion call by the referees that cost his team a crucial game.

Two people can't report. I don’t want to talk about it. I explain everything pregame to a tee, OK? I did that.
Said Campbell frustrated when the media talked after the officials made the ruling.

Referee Brad Allen explains Dan Skipper’s eligibility confusion in the Lions-Cowboys game

In the pool report, referee Allen cleared that the backup tackle, Skipper, reported to him as an eligible receiver, but then he went on to the tackle spot. And therefore, there was no need for him to report at all. The starting left tackle, Decker, was already playing the game by this time.

In a video clip, Allen was seen having a conversation with Decker, after which he went to the Cowboys’ defense.

That conversation is where [Skipper] reports to me, and I then go to the defensive team, and I say to them ‘[Skipper] has reported as an eligible receiver,’ so they will be aware of who has reported and then I return to my position.
He said
Dan Campbell and Taylor Decker
Dan Campbell and Taylor Decker (Via SI)

The conversation that Decker had with the officials was done after Goff’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown.

All I really want to say on it, just so I don’t get myself into trouble, is I did exactly what coach told me to do.
Said Decker

He shared that the head coach came up to him and talked about the chances of those sorts of pregame plays. He followed Dan’s advice about how he had been practicing all week long.

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