Lions, Taylor Decker find themselves in another officiating controversy
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As if the Lions first home playoff game in 30 years – against Matt Stafford – wasn't quite on the nose enough for you, Sunday night's game featured yet another controversial (see: bad) call from the officials on Taylor Decker. With about a minute left in the first half, Decker was flagged for a false start on a 4th-and-5 play with the offense on the field, evidently trying to get the Rams to jump offsides. Replays, however, show somewhat-clearly that Rams linebacker Ernest Jones jumped first:
#Lions in another officiating controversy: Everyone in the stadium realizes this should be a neutral-zone penalty. #Lions get called for a false start instead.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 15, 2024
And it's again with Taylor Decker.
Not great. pic.twitter.com/Xuz0dhEKF3
Both Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth seemed convinced that Ernest Jones came across the line first, and brought on broadcast rules analyst Terry McAulay to get an explanation.
"It sure looks to me, Cris, that the defense jumped before the offense moved." McAulay said. "It should have been a neutral zone infraction."
"It sure looks to me, Cris, that the defense jumped before the offense moved. It should have been a neutral zone infraction."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 15, 2024
Terry McAulay disagrees with the controversial false start call, that cost the Lions a first down. pic.twitter.com/lAxHLZqWLn
The Lions would end up punting, but LA, starting from their own 5 yard line, chose to run out clock on the final minute of the first half. So ultimately not as important as the Decker call from Week 17's loss in Dallas, but still enough to get the heart rate going. And that's what playoff football is really all about.
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