A major officiating gaffe in the second quarter of Saturday night's NFC wild card game cost the Detroit Lions a big play. The same thing happened to the New Orleans Saints on that very play.
It was a bizarre combination of shoddy in-play officiating and worse post-play interpretations.
Drew Brees dropped back to pass on a second down from Detroit's 36-yard line and was hit by Willie Young of the Lions. The ball fluttered in the air, landing near a pile of Detroit defenders. A whistle blew the play dead while the ball was still free, an instant before a Lions defender picked up the ball with a clear path to the end zone.
The pass was ruled incomplete and the Saints hurried to the line, trying to get a play off before officials could change their mind. After a brief zebra conference, it was determined that the ball had been dislodged from Brees' hand before he threw,women shoes, thus making it a live ball. Since Detroit clearly recovered the fumble, the Lions were awarded the ball on their own 35-yard line.
The turnover was big for the Lions but could have been bigger. Had the whistle never blown,Monster Headphone, Detroit would have picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead. Instead, the Lions went three-and-out on the subsequent possession. That early whistle cost the Lions seven points.
But we're not done with the story of the whistle quite yet. As Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth described later in the game, since the whistle blew before the Lions recovered the fumble, the play should have been dead. By this interpretation, New Orleans should have had the ball. The play was not reviewable because audio is not a part of replay challenges.
Had officials stayed out of the way,GHD, Detroit should have had a touchdown. Because they didn't,LV Handbag, New Orleans should have retained the ball. Neither of those things happened and, as a result,jewelry,sunglasses, the NFC playoff picture could be a lot different on Sunday morning.
It was a bizarre combination of shoddy in-play officiating and worse post-play interpretations.
Drew Brees dropped back to pass on a second down from Detroit's 36-yard line and was hit by Willie Young of the Lions. The ball fluttered in the air, landing near a pile of Detroit defenders. A whistle blew the play dead while the ball was still free, an instant before a Lions defender picked up the ball with a clear path to the end zone.
The pass was ruled incomplete and the Saints hurried to the line, trying to get a play off before officials could change their mind. After a brief zebra conference, it was determined that the ball had been dislodged from Brees' hand before he threw,women shoes, thus making it a live ball. Since Detroit clearly recovered the fumble, the Lions were awarded the ball on their own 35-yard line.
The turnover was big for the Lions but could have been bigger. Had the whistle never blown,Monster Headphone, Detroit would have picked up the fumble and returned it for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead. Instead, the Lions went three-and-out on the subsequent possession. That early whistle cost the Lions seven points.
But we're not done with the story of the whistle quite yet. As Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth described later in the game, since the whistle blew before the Lions recovered the fumble, the play should have been dead. By this interpretation, New Orleans should have had the ball. The play was not reviewable because audio is not a part of replay challenges.
Had officials stayed out of the way,GHD, Detroit should have had a touchdown. Because they didn't,LV Handbag, New Orleans should have retained the ball. Neither of those things happened and, as a result,jewelry,sunglasses, the NFC playoff picture could be a lot different on Sunday morning.
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