NFL Defends Controversial Penalty Call in Cowboys-Lions Game

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts with offensive tackle Terence Steele (78) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 30, 2023. Sam Hodde/AP Photo

The NFL on Tuesday defended referee Brad Allen’s controversial call to nullify a two-point conversion that would have effectively given the Detroit Lions a win over the Dallas Cowboys last week.

In the game, officials determined Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker was an ineligible receiver because they said offensive lineman Dan Skipper reported in as eligible when both approached referee Mr. Allen along with offensive lineman Penei Sewell before the pivotal, go-ahead play with just seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Mr. Decker caught the pass that would have given Detroit a 21–20 lead over the Cowboys but it was waived off by the officiating crew, saying his reception was illegal touching. The Cowboys won 20–19, drawing immediate controversy as both teams were likely playoff-bound.

Mr. Decker told reporters in Dallas that he reported as eligible and Mr. Skipper said he didn’t say a word to the officials.

In a video that was distributed online on Tuesday, an NFL official said that “to allow the defense an opportunity to match personnel to avoid deception and to ensure fairness, the player must immediately report the change in his eligibility status to the referee, who will inform the defensive team and will make an announcement to the stadium before that play.”

“It is the responsibility of the player to be sure that change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by both a physical signal with his hands up and down in front of his chest and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver,” the official said.

A spokesperson for the NFL told The Athletic and other outlets that the video was distributed to team coaches and other staff “reminding them of rules pertaining to players reporting a change in position.”

In the NFL video, it appears that Mr. Decker is making a gesture as eligible to the referee.

“I did exactly what Coach told me to do,” Mr. Decker told reporters Saturday. “I went to the ref, said, ‘Report’ and, uh, yeah.”

“This process has been in place for many years and is intended to provide proper notification to the defense when players are lined up in positions that their number would not allow,” the NFL official, identified by The Athletic as Walt Anderson, said in the video.

The clip also showed Mr. Decker having a conversation with Mr. Allen, who then said something to the Dallas 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,”  Mr. Allen said in a pool report. “That was the conversation with the defensive line.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters Monday that he was trying to confuse the Cowboys by sending three linemen to the referee. Mr. Cambell was asked about whether Mr. Skipper was trying to signal that he was eligible as a receiver and responded: “Not that I know of. Did you see something?

“If you’re running a play like that and 70 (Skipper) is your jumbo tight end and they know that because that’s what he does for you, and then you’re going to decide you’re going to make 68 (Decker) eligible and he walks over to the ref and then the ref stands over 68 before the play and they hold the ball and they stand over and point at him, do you think you’re going to be able to throw the ball to 68?” he said. “No, so it’s about eligibility, that’s what it’s about. And it has nothing to do with the ref. The ref knows. He knows, because 68 reported. It’s for the defense so that they see three different people and you’re just hoping they happen to not hear that it’s 70. That’s all.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.