Lions deny wrongdoing on controversial play vs. Cowboys; ref Brad Allen doubles down

Arlington, Texas — Following a controversial 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, several members of the Detroit Lions denied any wrongdoing on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion that was overturned via penalty.

After the Lions scored a touchdown with 23 seconds remaining to pull within 20-19, offensive tackle Dan Skipper was announced by the official as an eligible receiver prior to the 2-point try.

Only one problem: The Lions claim that a conversation between Skipper and the official never happened, and that it was actually left tackle Taylor Decker who reported as eligible. So when the completed pass went to Decker — and after much celebration — a flag was dropped for illegal touching to much confusion on the Lions sideline.

"They didn't tell me anything after the play," Decker said. "All I really want to say on it, just so I don't get myself into trouble, is I did exactly what coach told me to do.

"I went to the ref, said, 'Report,' and yeah. I don't know. It was my understanding, too, that (head coach) Dan (Campbell) brings up the possibility of those sorts of plays pregame, so I did what I was told to do, did it how we did it in practice all week, and that's probably all we can touch on with that."

Campbell said postgame that he did inform the officials pregame that the play could be coming.

"I explain everything (to the refs) pregame, to a T," Campbell said. "OK, I did that. (The explanation was), (Skipper) reported, (Decker) didn't. We threw it to 68 (Decker)."

Referee Brad Allen, meanwhile, doubled down on his own story to pool reporter Calvin Watkins.

"On this particular play, (Skipper), who had reported during the game a couple of times, reported to me as eligible. Then he lined up at the tackle position, so, actually, he didn't have to report at all," Allen said.

"(Decker), who ended up going downfield and touching the pass, did not report. Therefore, he is an ineligible (player) touching a pass that goes beyond the line, which makes it a foul. So, the issue is, (Skipper) did report, (Decker) did not."

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Adding to the confusion was the fact two flags were thrown on the play. Allen said that there was an additional flag thrown for an illegal formation because Skipper reported as eligible while being covered on the line of scrimmage, though the second infraction in itself seems to indicate the possibility that Allen had, in fact, gotten his signals crossed.

"(Skipper) is in an illegal position because he is covered up by rule, and (Decker) catches the pass, which is also illegal," Allen said.

A clearly frustrated Skipper declined a formal postgame interview, citing an unwillingness to be fined. He told a handful of reporters near his locker, "I did not say a word to the ref."

An interaction shown on the broadcast between quarterback Jared Goff and Decker prior to the play seems to confirm the Lions' side of the story. Goff can be seen telling Decker to go over to the official, where Decker can then be seen having a conversation with the official as Skipper runs on.

Goff was adamant his side reported correctly.

"What I do know — and I don't know if I'll get fined for this — but I do know that Decker reported, I do know that Dan Skipper did not, and I do know that they said Dan Skipper did," Goff said.

"So, it's unfortunate."

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi