Lions can put this game away Pass interference defense..
Bedlam erupts. The teams start marching down the field. The Lions are about to get the ball deep in Dallas territory with a chance to go up two scores.
And then in something I have never seen in my 40+ years of watching the NFL
No foul…
WTF??
I’ve seen flags thrown and then the refs huddle and then the flag is picked up. But I’ve never seen it picked up after the penalty is called.
No explanation was given. Just “No foul”
And it was a bad pick up too. Fox’s referee expert, Mike Pereira, thought it was a bad reversal during the game and even more so after the game.
Bedlam erupts. The teams start marching down the field. The Lions are about to get the ball deep in Dallas territory with a chance to go up two scores.
And then in something I have never seen in my 40+ years of watching the NFL
No foul…
WTF??
I’ve seen flags thrown and then the refs huddle and then the flag is picked up. But I’ve never seen it picked up after the penalty is called.
No explanation was given. Just “No foul”
And it was a bad pick up too. Fox’s referee expert, Mike Pereira, thought it was a bad reversal during the game and even more so after the game.
Whoooooaaa... Shank There were 3 penalties not called on the same play. 1st defensive holding, 2nd pass interference and then 3rd unsportsmanlike when Dez Bryant ran onto the field without his helmet to chew out the refs.
Anyone of those calls would have given the Lions a 1st down and time to work further down the field to either get a score or pin the Cowboys deep using up timeouts.
But they didn’t
Chris texted “The NFL wants Dallas to win”
Doofus: “Yup the fix is in” “Boys get better ratings”
Chris “The NFL was concerned about your cigars”
Chris had previously texted that he was going to smoke my cigars I had left at the Outdoor Ampitheatre last week if Dallas beat the Lions. I would gladly sacrifice them if the Lions could win a playoff game for the first time since the Sax Man was less than 2 months old.
Good teams can make the playoffs. Great teams overcome adversity.
The Lions are not a great team. Rather than rally around a setback - they collapsed.
First, with it now 4th and one at the Dallas 46, the Lions could go for it. They line up but then try to draw the Cowboys offsides. Lame. They weren’t going to fall for that tactic.
Asked after the game why they didn’t go for it HC Jim Caldwell said “We thought about it in that situation but we were up.”
Even more lame. If the other team knows that you won’t go for it if you have the lead they are even less likely to fall for the old – hard count draw you offsides ploy.
With the game still theirs though the Lions shank a 10 yard punt. It was then that I knew the Lions would collapse. They were folding big time under pressure.
Anyone of those calls would have given the Lions a 1st down and time to work further down the field to either get a score or pin the Cowboys deep using up timeouts.
But they didn’t
Chris texted “The NFL wants Dallas to win”
Doofus: “Yup the fix is in” “Boys get better ratings”
Chris “The NFL was concerned about your cigars”
Chris had previously texted that he was going to smoke my cigars I had left at the Outdoor Ampitheatre last week if Dallas beat the Lions. I would gladly sacrifice them if the Lions could win a playoff game for the first time since the Sax Man was less than 2 months old.
Good teams can make the playoffs. Great teams overcome adversity.
The Lions are not a great team. Rather than rally around a setback - they collapsed.
First, with it now 4th and one at the Dallas 46, the Lions could go for it. They line up but then try to draw the Cowboys offsides. Lame. They weren’t going to fall for that tactic.
Asked after the game why they didn’t go for it HC Jim Caldwell said “We thought about it in that situation but we were up.”
Even more lame. If the other team knows that you won’t go for it if you have the lead they are even less likely to fall for the old – hard count draw you offsides ploy.
With the game still theirs though the Lions shank a 10 yard punt. It was then that I knew the Lions would collapse. They were folding big time under pressure.
And Stafford fumbles the game away Sure enough, the defense that was brilliant through 3 quarters, a defense that held the Cowboys to just 1 TD and 156 yards in the first half; a defense that bailed out the offense when Stafford (who was already a full quarter into collapse mode) threw a pick at the Lions 19 – would hold Dallas to a FG; that defense was ready to melt down.
At first, it looked like maybe this was not your “Same Old Lions”. The defense forced a 4th and 6 at the Detroit 42. But Dallas was playing to win (Got that Caldwell? You go for the win in the playoffs!)
Of course, Dallas gets it and the Lions loss was on.
Dallas converts on two more third downs and with it 3rd and goal at the eight, Romo scrambles for an eternity and finally hits Terrance Williams for the go ahead TD.
The Lions get the ball back with 2:32 left needing a TD. A great clutch QB like Brady or Rodgers would get that TD no problem.
Stafford can’t. He fumbles it not once but twice. The first time was a bizzare Lions fumble it away, Dallas fumbles it back giving the Lions another first down.
The second fumble sealed the Lions fate.
So now the Lions are out of the playoffs again. The talk will be about the draft but what the really need is a leader to come through free agency. Megatron is a hall of Famer but too quiet. Stafford gets “deer in the headlights” (he's now lost 17 in a row on the road to teams with a winning record). Golden Tate could emerge but he needs help. So keep an eye on free agency. That’s where the next big step will come from. A rookie, no matter how good isn't going to get the Lions to the next step.
After I was starting to stop stewing over the loss I did take some small comfort in one thing – at least the Lions covered. In fact the Big Book of Guesses did pretty good going 3-1 over the weekend. The Doofus went 1-0 on the Mega Bets with
At first, it looked like maybe this was not your “Same Old Lions”. The defense forced a 4th and 6 at the Detroit 42. But Dallas was playing to win (Got that Caldwell? You go for the win in the playoffs!)
Of course, Dallas gets it and the Lions loss was on.
Dallas converts on two more third downs and with it 3rd and goal at the eight, Romo scrambles for an eternity and finally hits Terrance Williams for the go ahead TD.
The Lions get the ball back with 2:32 left needing a TD. A great clutch QB like Brady or Rodgers would get that TD no problem.
Stafford can’t. He fumbles it not once but twice. The first time was a bizzare Lions fumble it away, Dallas fumbles it back giving the Lions another first down.
The second fumble sealed the Lions fate.
So now the Lions are out of the playoffs again. The talk will be about the draft but what the really need is a leader to come through free agency. Megatron is a hall of Famer but too quiet. Stafford gets “deer in the headlights” (he's now lost 17 in a row on the road to teams with a winning record). Golden Tate could emerge but he needs help. So keep an eye on free agency. That’s where the next big step will come from. A rookie, no matter how good isn't going to get the Lions to the next step.
After I was starting to stop stewing over the loss I did take some small comfort in one thing – at least the Lions covered. In fact the Big Book of Guesses did pretty good going 3-1 over the weekend. The Doofus went 1-0 on the Mega Bets with
Luck, meanwhile, was brilliant Indianapolis -3.5 vs Cincinnati – I was getting a little concerned about this pick as the sharps had pushed the line down from 4 to the critical number of 3. Andrew Luck had a reputation of beating up on the weak and helpless but barely beats good teams.
Cincinnati had the better defense and running game. I was counting on Luck to dominate Dalton.
I was correct – the sharps got it wrong.
Luck took the opening drive for a TD to go up 7-0. I was getting a little concerned though. My favorite WR (outside the Lions that is) TY Hilton was inexplicably dropping passes.
I need not worry. Luck thoroughly outplayed Dalton.
The disparity in the QB play was no more apparent than midway through the 3rd quarter. The Colts were nursing a 13-10 lead. On 2nd and ten, Luck is getting sacked. Falling forward he lobs a perfect pass to WR Sidney Moncrief for a TD.
On the ensuing drive, Dalton under throws a wide open Brandon Tate. The Bengals punted and never threatened.
The stats backed up the respective play. Luck was 31 for 44, 376 yards, 1 TD, no picks. Dalton was 18 for 35, 155 yards, 0 TDs, 0 picks. Dominated.
And for all the woes about the Lions in the playoffs the Bengals are worse. They haven't won since the 1990 season, 1 year longer the Detroit.
Cincinnati becomes the first team ever to lose four consecutive opening round playoff games and Dalton ties Warren Moon for consecutive opening round losses at 0-4. HC Marvin Lewis is worse. He ties Jim Mora Sr, Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Owen with six straight playoff losses to start a career.
So buck up Lions. Your not as bad as Cincinnati.
Cincinnati had the better defense and running game. I was counting on Luck to dominate Dalton.
I was correct – the sharps got it wrong.
Luck took the opening drive for a TD to go up 7-0. I was getting a little concerned though. My favorite WR (outside the Lions that is) TY Hilton was inexplicably dropping passes.
I need not worry. Luck thoroughly outplayed Dalton.
The disparity in the QB play was no more apparent than midway through the 3rd quarter. The Colts were nursing a 13-10 lead. On 2nd and ten, Luck is getting sacked. Falling forward he lobs a perfect pass to WR Sidney Moncrief for a TD.
On the ensuing drive, Dalton under throws a wide open Brandon Tate. The Bengals punted and never threatened.
The stats backed up the respective play. Luck was 31 for 44, 376 yards, 1 TD, no picks. Dalton was 18 for 35, 155 yards, 0 TDs, 0 picks. Dominated.
And for all the woes about the Lions in the playoffs the Bengals are worse. They haven't won since the 1990 season, 1 year longer the Detroit.
Cincinnati becomes the first team ever to lose four consecutive opening round playoff games and Dalton ties Warren Moon for consecutive opening round losses at 0-4. HC Marvin Lewis is worse. He ties Jim Mora Sr, Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Owen with six straight playoff losses to start a career.
So buck up Lions. Your not as bad as Cincinnati.
