The Cowboys vs Lions Wildcard Playoff game was by far the most exciting game of the wildcard round this year. This was a Cowboys team that stunned the NFL by finishing the regular season at 12-4 after every analyst in the game thought they couldn’t and wouldn’t win more than 6 games this year. Some even had them only winning 3 games. They were supposed to have the worst defense in franchise history. Especially after they let their only defensive superstar DeMarcus Ware go in free agency. How would this defense survive the year without any superstars? There were multiple story lines heading into this game. Neither team had won a playoff game in quite some time, the top rushing defense vs the top rushing offense, Ndamukong Suh’s overturned suspension, could the Cowboys defense contain “Megatron” who had 329 receiving yards and a touchdown in their last meeting, Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan and Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli facing their old team, the Dallas Cowboys riding a 4 game December win streak. The list could go on, but none of these would be the story that anyone remembers from this game. Unfortunately the only thing people will ever remember from this game is the controversial flag-no flag heard around the world, or as many are now calling it – The Phantom Flag Call. It’s a shame that in a game in which so many storylines could have been produced the only one that will ever stick out is one of controversy. It will forever overshadow the great competition that was displayed by both teams. The game was reminiscent of a great heavy weight fight. The Lions came out ready to punch their way to a quick knockout by scoring 2 touchdowns in the 1st quarter and taking an early 14-0 lead over the Cowboys. The Dallas offense looked to have no answer for the power punching Detroit defense. As time ticked away in the first half and the Cowboys somehow still standing after a standing 8 count of sorts, found a way to finally land a punch of their own. Tony Romo connected with Terrance Williams on a 76 yard touchdown pass overcoming a offensive pass interference call that was called a few plays earlier on Williams. It was the spark that the offense needed going into the half, but first the defense would have to hold Detroit on yet another series before the half would be over. That wouldn’t happen. Instead Detroit drove 59 yards for a 39 yard field goal that would seemingly end the first half with Detroit up 17-7 and the momentum in Detroit’s favor. The second half of the game would be a much different fight. The Lions received the ball and continued to fight by driving 50 yards for yet another field goal. The field goal would put the Lions up 20-7 over the Cowboys, but this would be the last time the Lions would score. The Cowboy ended the 3rd quarter with an electric 80 yard drive, sparked by a 43 yard tackle breaking catch and run by Dez Bryant and capped off with a 4th down 1 yard touchdown run by DeMarco Murray. It was a gutsy call by Jason Garrett to go for it on 4th down against the #1 rush defense and risk coming away with nothing, but it was a chance to show their opponent that the fight was far from over. The Cowboys were now punching back and inflicting their own damage. The score was now 20-14 and Dallas was now within striking distance. You could see that a spark had been ignited, but could the defense continue to hold the Lions offense who hadn’t scored since their early 3rd quarter field goal? The answer is yes, the defense would hold and Dallas would again pull closer with a field goal. It was now 20-17 with over 12 minutes left in the game and the Cowboys were back in the fight with a second wind. It was during these final 12+ minutes though where the controversial call would be made, or not made in this case. With 8 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the game on third-down-and-1 from the Cowboys 46-yard line, Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was lined up as a receiver. Cowboys rookie linebacker Anthony Hitchens was in coverage. During this play, there were several factors that could have been brought up. It appeared that Hitchens momentarily grabbed Pettigrew’s jersey. You see these types of plays throughout the entire game. Some get called some get missed. It’s the nature of the game. Then as the ball was thrown both players were fighting for position and Pettigrew grabbed and held Hitchens’ face mask. Some argue that this why Hitchens could not turn to play the ball after being pulled by the face mask and momentum then continued to carry him towards the receiver. At this point contact was made as the ball arrived. Was it pass interference? Was there enough contact to warrant a call? An back judge who was not near the play made the initial call for pass interference and the head referee immediately took to the intercom system to relay the call. At this time Dez Bryant ran onto the field without his helmet and could have been called for a penalty himself. Did the refs not see him? Where they distracted by the confusion of the PI call? It was at this time that the officials who had huddled to talk about the flag determined it was not a PI penalty, but rather face guarding and relayed it to the referee who then relayed to the audience and the teams that there was no penalty for PI. It was the head linesman that had the better view of the play and offered the ultimate deciding view on the call. It was the call-no call that would be heard around the world. Should there have been a PI call? That will forever be debated. Should the officiating crew huddled prior to the head official making the call, yes. Would this have been discussed and debated as much as it has if the crew would have huddled prior to the call? More than likely no, but again this call will forever be debated and it will take away the shine from what had been a great game up to this point. The Lions would fail to convert and Dallas would regain possession after a 10 yard shanked punt by Detroit. Tony Romo and the Cowboys would capitalize on the shanked punt and drive 59 yards for yet another touchdown. Tony Romo threw an 8 yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams capping off a drive that was kept alive by a crucial 4th down conversion on a 21 yard pass from Romo to Witten. The Cowboys had done what they have done all year. They never gave up, they continued to fight and play to Jason Garrett’s philosophy to play in the moment, to take each play one play at a time, to do your job the absolute best that you can do it, to continue to fight regardless of circumstance. The Cowboys were now up 24-20. Had Tony Romo led the Cowboys to yet another 4th quarter comeback? Had a defense that was previously burned by “Megatron” for 329 yards really held him to only 89 yards? There were still over 2 minutes left to play and Detroit had the ball. Last time this happened Detroit came out on top 31-30. It was here though that the defense would make another stand. The Lions fumbled the football! Rookie defensive end, DeMarcus Lawrence recovered the fumbled, but made a crucial rookie mistake. Instead of falling on the ball to seal the game, he tried to scoop and score. The Lions were able to strip Lawrence and recover the fumble. Dallas fans everywhere immediately face palmed. The Cowboys had given the ball right back to the Lions with a new set of downs. The fight wasn’t over. Again, the defense would stand strong. Detroit now faced a 4th down, with the entire season on the line and time ticking away. It was at this time that rookie defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence would redeem himself by delivering what would be the knockout blow. The rookie finally recorded the first sack of his career and caused yet another Detroit fumble. This time the Cowboys would recover and the game was sealed. The heavy weight fight was over. The Cowboys came out on top 24-20 in a hard fought contest. As exciting as the bout was, it is truly a shame that what people will forever remember about this contest is the so called Phantom Flag. People will overlook how well the Lions fought. People will not give credit to how well the Cowboys responded in their fight back. Two teams that were in it to win it left it all out on the field. Every play was played at a 100% by every player on the field. There were no plays that were taken off. The effort that was given by both teams was truly remarkable and it is what playoff football is all about. The Detroit Lions saw a gut wrenching end to their season. The Dallas Cowboys did what their head coach has asked all season, they continued to fight and they survived to fight another fight.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:30:33 +0000