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Detroit Lions fans: How outraged should you be about that final play?

By Payne Schanski

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions is stopped at the goal line to end the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Atlanta defeated Detroit 30-26. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 24: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions is stopped at the goal line to end the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Atlanta defeated Detroit 30-26. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Lions took another sucker punch from the NFL rulebook in Sunday’s loss. How upset should you be about the controversial final play though?

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions catches the ball as Brian Poole #34 of the Atlanta Falcons touches him and his knee hits the ground during the fourth quarter at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The play war originally ruled a touchdown but was overturned after the officials viewed the play and the game was over giving the Atlanta Falcons a 30-26 victory over the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions catches the ball as Brian Poole #34 of the Atlanta Falcons touches him and his knee hits the ground during the fourth quarter at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The play war originally ruled a touchdown but was overturned after the officials viewed the play and the game was over giving the Atlanta Falcons a 30-26 victory over the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

This is actually a two part question:

  1. What exactly is the correct amount of outrage to feel after the questionable result in Sunday’s 30-26 loss* to the Falcons?
  2. Who exactly should this outrage be directed at?

* May or may not have actually been a loss.

On the one hand…

  • It’s hard to say that Golden Tate definitively crossed the goal line on the last play.
  • It’s hard to say that he didn’t either.
  • Yet another call that I’ve never once seen before costs the Lions a game. How do you lose a game by one INCH on a ten second run-off?
  • Golden was pretty clearly interfered with, and probably gets that final inch if he wasn’t bumped while the ball is in the air.
  • Golden might not have had full control of the ball until he was safely over the line.
  • The play was ruled a touchdown on the field.

On the other hand…

  • The Lions were sort of playing with house money at this point anyway. I fully expected them to start 1-3, and they still have a great chance to be 3-1 after next week.
  • Don’t throw a half yard slant when you need a full yard.
  • I’d rather have this happen now than at a more critical point in the season.
  • I’ve been saying all along, the Lions can’t rely on winning 50-50 games this year. Leave no doubt, or this stuff is going to happen.
  • The Lions are currently one inch away from being the best team in the NFC. They lost* yesterday, but let that thought sink in.
  • Supposedly, there was enough video evidence to call back the touchdown.

In my mind, the Lions are trending up, there’s a lot of season left, and they’ll be competitive in every game. It was yet another tough break for a team and city that gets more than their fair share. The season still looks very promising though, so I’m really not going to sweat this one too much. I’ll give it only about a 3.5 out of 10 on my outrage scale.

However…

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