The NFL wants to ensure that after the Dallas Cowboys’ 20-19 victory against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, its teams, coaches, and players are aware of the procedure for registering players as eligible receivers.
An unlawful touching penalty negated the Lions’ potential game-winning two-point conversion try, allowing the Cowboys to hold on for the victory.
The Lions had wanted No. 68 Taylor Decker to be declared eligible, but referee Brad Allen declared No. 70 Dan Skipper eligible, which led to the penalty.
Though Decker was declared as the eligible receiver, the two-point conversion play was ruled back despite Decker’s successful catch of it.
According to the NFL, the Lions misled the officials inadvertently while trying to trick the Cowboys defense, as head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged.
“As a reminder to clubs and players, an offensive player numbered 50 through 79, or 90 through 99, is permitted to line up as an eligible pass receiver,” NFL V.P. of officiating Walt Anderson explains in the 1:45 clip, a copy of which PFT has seen.
“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.
… “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.”
Following the game, Campbell and the Lions were furious, and the penalty dominated NFL conversation all weekend long.
Saturday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will be officiated by Allen’s crew. This season, his crew has been involved in a number of contentious calls and games. Two examples include the Miami Dolphins-Philadelphia Eagles game, where the Dolphins were penalized ten times to the Eagles’ zero, and the non-call on a blatant pass interference at the end of the Green Bay Packers-Kansas City Chiefs game.
But the league’s biggest lesson from the Cowboys-Lions game is that you may confuse the officials as well if you try to trick the opposing team. It is your fault at that moment. not the official.
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