With the climax of this season’s Lombardi Trophy ceremony approaching, NFL games are intensifying, featuring captivating moments and, at times, spotlight-stealing controversial calls. Among the referees involved in these critical decisions, Brad Allen is the most recent to face scrutiny.
In Saturday night’s clash between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, a controversial call by Allen stole the spotlight and altered the course of the game.
Why was the Lions 2-point play cancelled by NFL ref Brad Allen?
With the Lions leading 21-20 after an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and a subsequent two-point conversion by unlikely receiver Taylor Decker, chaos ensued.
The Lions, down 20-13 with no timeouts and only 1:41 left on the clock, managed a remarkable 75-yard drive to close the gap. Goff’s connection with St. Brown set the stage for the crucial two-point attempt. Decker caught Goff’s pass, seemingly securing a one-point lead for the Lions with just 23 seconds remaining.
Nevertheless, controversy struck as referee Brad Allen called Decker for an illegal touch. It nullified the game-changing conversion. The disputed call led to a sequence of events, including a penalty against the Lions and a series of attempts at the two-point conversion.
Despite the team’s resilience, the Lions fell short in the end. The Cowboys recovered an onside kick, sealing their 20-19 victory.
The decision took Lions fans back to the 2015 playoff match against the Cowboys, when a pass interference call on the Cowboys was reversed. After the game, Head Coach Dan Campbell addressed the media, expressing his frustration and stating he preferred not to discuss it, according to WXYZ.
Why is Brad Allen under fire after the Lions vs. Cowboys game?
The decision by Brad Allen sparked confusion and frustration, not only among the Lions players and fans but also across the league. Video evidence and postgame comments from Decker and others indicated that the left tackle had indeed been reported as eligible.
Meanwhile, the refs have already detailed his side. Yet, despite the upsetting loss, Lions fans flocked together on social media to convey their frustration, refuting Brad Allen’s take on the controversial call.
The tension heightened to the extent that certain fans openly expressed their discontent regarding the referees’ contracts within the league.
The controversial calls of the refs since the start of the season even garnered suggestions from the New York Jets’ starter Aaron Rodgers after the Kansas City Chiefs got privileges over the Jets that the fans saw as “Tom Brady level of protection”.
Despite the ongoing challenges faced by the league, the referees’ struggles persist. However, amid the numerous controversial calls, Brad Allen’s decision stands out as the most glaring. Fans express reluctance to witness him officiating on the NFL field any longer.
What’s your opinion on the ongoing referees’ controversial decisions?
