Lions used too much confusion on 2-point conversions, which backfired

admin | December 31, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Did Taylor Decker or Dan Skipper report to the officials prior to the Detroit Lions’ contentious 2-point conversion try in Saturday night’s 20-19 Week 17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas? Many people are asking this important question.

While most people are blaming the authorities, we should surely blame the Lions as well. Why? Their deception was too deceptive, and it was their responsibility.

Two things happened before the play, according to an ESPN video. Skipper, the extra lineman, dashes onto the field and toward official Brad Allen. Decker and Penei Sewell approach Allen at the same time.

Although it’s not entirely obvious who Allen was looking at, he seemed to be fixated on Skipper and pointed at Skipper, despite Decker approaching to report as eligible.

so who didn’t report then? pic.twitter.com/5U1sB2kLXk

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 31, 2023

Skipper may have thought Allen was yelling at him to report as eligible and then simply went to tell the Cowboys that No. 70 was available, even if Skipper never said anything.

The Lions made the mistake of sending three offensive linemen near Allen, with the evident purpose of deceiving Dallas’ defenders. The issue is that they misled the official, who declared the “wrong” athlete eligible.

Detroit, in my perspective, made an execution error. They should have urged Skipper to sprint directly to the huddle rather than toward the official if they didn’t want to confuse the official. They should have made it plain to the reporting officer who was qualified. They did not do so, which is part of their fault.

And after they were called for the penalty and all the commotion ensued, they should have probably taken the extra point as well rather than continuing to go for it.