Comments on: Texans come back to beat the Lions, with help from the refs

By: lstone19

lstone19 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:35:54 +0000

My take is the officials got it wrong. The actual text of the relevant rules have been quoted elsewhere but in short, the rule says a review cannot be INITIATED if the team that would benefit does something that would delay the next snap (giving the replay official more time to decide).

But in this case, the review was required by rule and therefore was automatically initiated the moment the ball carrier entered the end zone. The next snap was already being held for the review. From my reading of the quoted rules, there is no provision for stopping an already active review due to subsequent actions. The only result of the thrown challenge flag should have been the 15 yard penalty (note that the rule about incorrectly thrown challenge flags only calls for the 15 yards; the bit about making the play non-reviewable is a separate rule that in my opinion did not apply since the review was already under way by rule.

Another way to look at it is the review was required by rule and nothing in any of the rules calls for negating that REQUIRED review. The rules only provide for prohibiting a not yet initiated review.

By: oaktown49er

oaktown49er — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 15:56:07 +0000

I remember Jim Harbaugh trying to challenge a TD against the Lions last year and Schwartz strutting around saying “Know the rules Harbaugh”. Lions played well today, this one is on the coach.

By: tshirttom

tshirttom — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:58:53 +0000

When are the league rules going to make some real sense? The game should be fair and not detemined by lousy rules or lousy ref calls. Green Bay got screwed real bad too, but why do the Lions get terrible calls in away games and no less terrible calls at home? It stinks and it keeps happening every year.

By: hendeeze

hendeeze — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:25:58 +0000

Jim Schwartz, screams at other coaches across the field to “learn the rules”, yet he himself doesnt know the rules….

By: sullijo1

sullijo1 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 04:34:49 +0000

Detroit, being the pro-UNION city it is, got exactly what they deserve from the UNION refs.

Now, I want my hostess snacks back, you union jerks.

By: electstat

electstat — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 04:23:05 +0000

Was it the last play of the game? No.
Did Detroit get the ball back and have a chance (multiple chances) to win? Yes.

By: pjrhc

pjrhc — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:35:07 +0000

It’s not the officiating, guys; the refs would have self-corrected had the goofy coach not thrown the flag. It’s the turnovers. It’s the Lions.

By: 2ndaryinsanity

2ndaryinsanity — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:29:52 +0000

@patsfan22: no, the Texans “should” be 10-1, because that’s what their record is. “You are what your record say you are.” Period.
Did the ref’s blow some calls? Hell yes! That was the worst officiated game since the replacement ref’s were on the field.
However, the Lions had a multitude of chances to win this game. But just like most of the games they’ve lost this season, the Lions didn’t do it.
There would be a lot less to talk about had Jim Schwartz not f#*&% up by throwing a challenge flag, which prevented the replay that would have overturned the TD run. Stupid rule? Yeah. But Schwartz gets paid MILLIONS of dollars to be a head coach in the NFL…he should know the rules.

By: melabruha

melabruha — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:25:51 +0000

What happens if the Texans had thrown the challenge flag? They would be penalized 15 yards and given the touchdown with no review? Awful rule. 15 yards is enough deterrent for coaches. No NFL rule should involve a punishment of “so we will refuse to verify the previous play”.

By: gloxford

gloxford — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:20:57 +0000

NFL needs to change this rule. Penalty yes, but disregarding a mandatory replay for a scoring play!!! That is a joke

Out of order, I show you out of order. You don’t know what out of order is, Mr. Godell I’d show you, but I’m too old, I’m too tired, I’m too Stink’n blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I’d take a FLAMETHROWER to this place

By: metrocritical

metrocritical — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:15:03 +0000

The Lions allowed themselves to be screwed today by matching every blown call with a bad play, blown play or bad play call by the offensive coordinator. If Chris Houston would’ve caught the gimme INT in the 4th, the Lions could’ve won. If Pettigrew would’ve caught the gimmes and not fumbled, the Lions could’ve won. If the coaching staff wouldn’t have bungled the offensive playing, the Lions could’ve won. If Schwartz knew the red flag rules…If a team wants to avoid the subjective whims of the officiating crew, the formula is simple: Make more plays than the opponent. Score more points. And stop being stupid.

By: deltachi8

deltachi8 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:01:40 +0000

Go union refs!

By: ravensgrl

ravensgrl — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:00:21 +0000

The lions got screwed today!! The challenge rule on scoring plays is stupid. I can see giving the Lions an unsportsmanlike conduct 15 yd penalty for Schwartz throwing the red flag, but to give the Texans 7 points is ridiculous!

By: csghostrider

csghostrider — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:48:19 +0000

The Forsett play reminds me of the Packers-Saints game where they ruled the returner down, after he had fumbled and was still standing. The Saints missed a field goal on the same drive. Join the club.

By: djaehne

djaehne — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:32:20 +0000

Teams the NFL hate:
#1 New Orleans Saints
#2 Detroit Lions
#3 New Orleans Saints

By: mute617

mute617 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:31:03 +0000

Schwartz is to blame, everybody knows this fat into the season, don’t throw the flag on tds or turn overs

By: djaehne

djaehne — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:29:07 +0000

You stupid east coast reporters have nothing to talk about since the Texans didn’t lose. Texans win out and go 3-0 in the playoffs.

By: okieviacal

okieviacal — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:24:09 +0000

Bottom line, this continues to be one of those seasons for the Lions. It’s infuriating, but that’s just the way things go sometimes. Two games the Lions should have won that might have kept them in playoff contention.

Here we are.

By: gnarlswoodson

gnarlswoodson — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:22:59 +0000

If the JJ Watt hit was clean which it was, the Nick Perry hi on luck should have been as well. That penalty cost the Packers the Colts game.

By: bargainstown

bargainstown — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:15:00 +0000

There are so many bad comments but I found this was really funny.

Really? Texans had help from refs. Did you watch the same game I did?

——————————————————
HaHaHa

By: cougred

cougred — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:37:27 +0000

It seems many didn’t care about the 7 non-call personal fouls by the Lions on Schaub and Watt. And at least 3 non-call pass interference calls.

Sure, the NFL is pushing Houston so much that the QB kicked in the groin and shoved down twice well after the play with no calls.

By: beelza

beelza — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:35:55 +0000

Other than vomitting, is their anything else that needs to be said about Detroit and their football team?

By: footballfanatic589

footballfanatic589 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:19:59 +0000

What a game that was in Detroit today for us lions fans. Although the officiating was brutal, the Lions had numerous of chances to seal the deal and they didnt come through. Couple times down the stretch as the lions drove the ball when they were on the texans 45 they failed to advance the ball and put up the 3 pts.

My god on the forset run though, clearly knee was on the ground. and a horrible rule…to negate a rule of reviewing every scoring touchdown with another rule?

By: conormacleod

conormacleod — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:15:25 +0000

Schwartz is a hothead and cost his team a game. But somehow the hothead Lions fans here manage to blame the officials and even Goodell for the loss. Really? Wow! Lions fans are as ignorant as their coach. You deserve each other you losers. Face the facts. If your coach leaves the red flag in his pocket, you win. That’s the only thing that cost your team a win!

By: noeffinway

noeffinway — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:03:00 +0000

To say the Lions lost because they left plays on the field is true. But to say the refs had nothing to do with that is flat out insane. Just as some will blame the Lions for losing it is also fair to blame the refs. Sure, had the Lions made more plays they would have won. BUT , at the same time, had the refs made the CORRECT calls the lions would have won! The Lions were supposed be playing the Texans today NOT the refs! It’s a sad day in the NFL to have a nationally televised game go the way this one did. Welcome to a Lions fans world!

By: texanfan62

texanfan62 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 00:02:44 +0000

First of all, to the PATRIOT Fans, you guys ought to be 9-1(Remember Arizona and Seattle!), maybe 10-0 if you guys beat Baltimore. You guys have a great team, so we’ll see in a couple of weeks. Clearly, Detroit should have won the game with all the Referee screw ups,same as Jacksonville last week, but give the Texans credit. They are Mentally Tough and Physically tough, something that wasn’t possible 2 years ago. However, if that Pass Rush and Pass Coverage doesn’t improve soon, this team isn’t going anywhere.

By: bleedbattlered

bleedbattlered — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 23:49:28 +0000

midway through the game while i was yelling at the defense I came to one realization. This was a defense that has played a lot in the last 4 days which makes you not as effective but on top of that this was a defense that was missing stars like cushing (ok he will be gone for the whole year so you can kind of negate that) but also Joseph their best secondary player…cody (could those runs down the middle have been stopped by him?); then as the game started we lost reed and then we lost james.

now reed and james are not having great years but that hurts soo much when you are already beat up, playing your second game in 4 days following a OT game and a bruiser just a week before in chicago.

But when that defense needed to come through, boy it came through. THREE times the lions started 40 or better in the 4th and OT and came with 0 points. That was some effort!!!!

By: tgadler

tgadler — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 23:40:44 +0000

How many dirty hits did Suh put on Schaub without a flag? I counted at least 3. Officiating wasn’t great, but it went both ways.

By: wrm1230

wrm1230 — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 23:38:36 +0000

So now the suggestion is that teams need help from the officials to beat the Lions? Since when?

By: nesuperfan

nesuperfan — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 23:28:42 +0000

I won’t rehash the calls already discussed, but that phantom offsides penalty that extended the Texans’ drive from the 5 yard line was also pretty bogus. The replay showed that it was more of an optical illusion. It was either late in the 4th quarter, or OT…I can’t remember already.