The Detroit Lions were still in Dallas when an NFL official reached out to coach Jim Caldwell to explain the botched pass-interference call that many within the organization feel cost them a chance to win their first playoff game in 23 years.
Caldwell wouldn’t share details of his conversation with the league during his season-ending news conference Monday, but as his players cleaned out their lockers after Sunday’s 24-20 wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he made it clear that the way the Lions lost was almost as painful as the outcome itself.
“The one thing I told them is that we’re not going to ever make any excuses about, or create any crutches for, any wins or losses. And this particular case will be no exception,” Caldwell said. “But the fact of the matter is it’s a controversial call. I think that, without question, that it was one that was probably not officiated correctly, in my estimation.”
Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was called for pass interference on third-and-1, with the Lions clinging to a three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Referee Pete Morelli announced the penalty, only to reverse the call as officials were marking the ball near the Cowboys’ 30-yard line. Morelli said in a pool report — and replays confirmed — that head linesman Jerry Bergman had a better view of the play than back judge Lee Dyer, who threw the flag.
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said during an appearance on the league-owned NFL Network Monday that Bergman and Dyer conferred as Morelli first announced the penalty and that the crew should have sorted out the call before spotting the ball.
Blandino said the pass-interference flag itself was debatable, and that it’s ultimately up to Dyer whether to let his penalty call stand.
But he said Hitchens should have been flagged for defensive holding after he grabbed Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew’s jersey earlier in the play.
The Lions punted on fourth down after the flag was picked up. Had a defensive-holding penalty been called, they would have had a first down at the Dallas 41-yard line.
“We have to look to see, was there significant contact before the ball arrived that prevented Pettigrew from making the catch? And I think it’s a tight judgment call,” Blandino said on NFL Network. “When you watch the play, there’s a left hand on the shoulder. Does that materially restrict the receiver’s ability to make the catch? One official, the back judge, felt it was. The head linesman had a different perspective. They got in, they talked about it as the referee was making his announcement, and we would prefer that they get together before the initial announcement, and then we could discuss it — make one announcement that there was no flag for defensive pass interference.”
Blandino also said that Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant could have been flagged for a personal foul for coming onto the field with no helmet to argue the play, but that penalty is left up to the discretion of officials.
Caldwell intimated that officials looked at replays on the Jumbotron at AT&T Stadium before making a decision on the penalty call.
“They’re not supposed to, let’s put it that way,” he said.
And when Caldwell was relayed comments that Blandino made during an appearance on the PFT Live radio show that were similar to what he said on NFL Network, the Lions coach said he “absolutely” agreed with Blandino’s assessment of the calls.
“Absolutely,” Caldwell said. “And the big thing is, I’m angry about it and trying to keep my composure here, but I’m probably more angry for our team, the fans — that’s the thing that stirs your blood. Our organization, the Ford family. That’s hard to swallow. I’ve been there a couple times before, but this, I’m here now, and this team is important for me, and the best for these men is what’s important for me as well and that particular case — I just think it’s tough, it’s difficult.”
For Lions players still reeling from Sunday’s loss, it was evident as they left the team’s Allen Park practice facility today, some for what might be the final time.
Longtime Lions center Dominic Raiola had tears bubbling in his eyes as he said he’s “still numb to” how the game ended.
“I’ve still never seen anything like that in my career,” Raiola said. “Never seen anything like that.”
And Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead said he wouldn’t accept an apology from the league on the matter, even if it came.
“It would mean nothing,” Whitehead said. “Absolutely nothing. Because at this point, we’re out of the tournament and we can’t do anything about it. So I wouldn’t want to hear any apologies at this point, because it wouldn’t mean anything to me.”
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