Most of my family resides near Detroit, Michigan. Both of my parents were raised around the area. I travel there multiple times every year, especially around national holidays. Having been born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Detroit was like a second home to me and continues to be to this very day. So, while I tend to play things in a rather neutral fashion when it comes to sports (yes, this is difficult having grown up around Nebraska football, having family pulling for Michigan and Michigan State, not to mention moving to Buckeye country), I quietly pull for the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings, and Pistons every season. When the Detroit Lions lost in the playoffs last year to the Dallas Cowboys, getting hosed by the referees down the stretch (http://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/2015/01/theres-no-other-way-to-put-it-detroit.html), I found myself to be more upset than I typically am when it comes to sporting events. Having said all that, though, I'm finding it difficult to get upset about the Detroit Lions' 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last night.
Down 13-10 late in the 4th quarter, Matthew Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson inside the red zone, Johnson reached the 1-yard-line, and when he extended the ball in an attempt to cross the goalline for a touchdown, he got it knocked out of his hands by Kam Chancellor. The ball bounced to the very back of the end zone, at which point Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright lightly batted the ball out of the end zone for a touchback, which all but ended the game. Apparently this action by Wright was illegal according to NFL rules, he should have been penalized, and the Lions should have been rewarded with the ball at the 1-yard-line for a 1st and goal. None of the referees objected to the initial ruling of a touchback. As far as I know, none of the Lions players or coaches contested the call. Even announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden hailed Wright for his "smart play." Today, of course, many in the media are claiming, like with the "Fail Mary" play three years ago, the Seahawks stole another game courtesy of the referees. For as much as I like and pull for the Lions, I'm going to have to disagree, and think the NFL will need to change the rule it appears only 1% of referees, coaches, players, and announcers know about.
Watch the replay. The ball was at the VERY back of the end zone, with no one seemingly within five feet of K.J. Wright. There was about as good of a chance of me winning the lottery last week on a ticket I didn't even purchase as there was for a Detroit Lion to have recovered that football in the end zone for a touchdown. If Wright fell on the ball, it would have been a touchback. If he jumped on it and it bounced out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. If another player met him halfway and the ball bounced out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. If Johnson had simply fumbled the ball out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. So what difference does it make for Wright to have lightly batted the ball out of the end zone? The fact of the matter is Calvin Johnson lost possession of the football. The ball was loose, and if it either got knocked out of the end zone or any Seattle Seahawk recovered it, it would result in a touchback. Some may argue, "Why should the defense be rewarded the football when they never had possession of it?" That's a reasonable point, but I'd simply counter with, "Why should the offense be rewarded for losing possession of the football?" If the referees reversed the call last night, that would essentially be rewarding the Lions for coughing up the ball near the goalline and into the end zone, simply because a linebacker instinctually knocked it out for a touchback. Why provide offenses with do-overs when they turn the ball over near the goalline?
Also, let's not pretend like the Detroit Lions played a stellar game last night. For the night, they accounted for just 12 first downs, 256 total yards (4.8 per play, 5.8 per pass, 2.9 per rush), they were 3 for 13 on third downs, and were 0 for 1 in the red zone. The only touchdown they had was courtesy of their defense. So while I hope the Lions are able to bounce back, string a few wins together, and find a way to contend in the NFC North, I think many in the media are making a bit too big a deal about this. If they should have a beef with anybody, it's the league. When no officials, coaches, players, nor announcers are aware of an NFL rule, chances are it's a dumb rule and should be changed. What point is there in having a rule when most of the league isn't aware of it? It's time for the league to focus less on the distance of extra points and more on what constitutes as a catch, a touchdown (on receptions), and a touchback (on plays like the one from last night).
http://espn.go.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=400791741
Down 13-10 late in the 4th quarter, Matthew Stafford connected with Calvin Johnson inside the red zone, Johnson reached the 1-yard-line, and when he extended the ball in an attempt to cross the goalline for a touchdown, he got it knocked out of his hands by Kam Chancellor. The ball bounced to the very back of the end zone, at which point Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright lightly batted the ball out of the end zone for a touchback, which all but ended the game. Apparently this action by Wright was illegal according to NFL rules, he should have been penalized, and the Lions should have been rewarded with the ball at the 1-yard-line for a 1st and goal. None of the referees objected to the initial ruling of a touchback. As far as I know, none of the Lions players or coaches contested the call. Even announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden hailed Wright for his "smart play." Today, of course, many in the media are claiming, like with the "Fail Mary" play three years ago, the Seahawks stole another game courtesy of the referees. For as much as I like and pull for the Lions, I'm going to have to disagree, and think the NFL will need to change the rule it appears only 1% of referees, coaches, players, and announcers know about.
Watch the replay. The ball was at the VERY back of the end zone, with no one seemingly within five feet of K.J. Wright. There was about as good of a chance of me winning the lottery last week on a ticket I didn't even purchase as there was for a Detroit Lion to have recovered that football in the end zone for a touchdown. If Wright fell on the ball, it would have been a touchback. If he jumped on it and it bounced out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. If another player met him halfway and the ball bounced out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. If Johnson had simply fumbled the ball out of the end zone, it would have been a touchback. So what difference does it make for Wright to have lightly batted the ball out of the end zone? The fact of the matter is Calvin Johnson lost possession of the football. The ball was loose, and if it either got knocked out of the end zone or any Seattle Seahawk recovered it, it would result in a touchback. Some may argue, "Why should the defense be rewarded the football when they never had possession of it?" That's a reasonable point, but I'd simply counter with, "Why should the offense be rewarded for losing possession of the football?" If the referees reversed the call last night, that would essentially be rewarding the Lions for coughing up the ball near the goalline and into the end zone, simply because a linebacker instinctually knocked it out for a touchback. Why provide offenses with do-overs when they turn the ball over near the goalline?
Also, let's not pretend like the Detroit Lions played a stellar game last night. For the night, they accounted for just 12 first downs, 256 total yards (4.8 per play, 5.8 per pass, 2.9 per rush), they were 3 for 13 on third downs, and were 0 for 1 in the red zone. The only touchdown they had was courtesy of their defense. So while I hope the Lions are able to bounce back, string a few wins together, and find a way to contend in the NFC North, I think many in the media are making a bit too big a deal about this. If they should have a beef with anybody, it's the league. When no officials, coaches, players, nor announcers are aware of an NFL rule, chances are it's a dumb rule and should be changed. What point is there in having a rule when most of the league isn't aware of it? It's time for the league to focus less on the distance of extra points and more on what constitutes as a catch, a touchdown (on receptions), and a touchback (on plays like the one from last night).
http://espn.go.com/nfl/matchup?gameId=400791741
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