Strange football convergence: I’ll be in Dallas (getting ready to go to the College Playoff Championship) for the Cowboys-Packers game. Gulp!! Go Pack! Go Ducks! Yikes!
You haven’t heard that it’s bad luck for the team playing at JerryWorld to root against that team in their away game?
I hope the Ducks don’t get wind of this-if they lose it will be on your shoulders. 
Ice Bowl '67 redux, anyone?
The head ref provided the explanation and the story on the field. I even think that a post above that intimated there was a lack of explanation included a link to the very plausible story of the “boss” on the field. While I think it is pointless to debate all the calls during the game --and especially when placed under a slow-motion microscope-- what happened is pretty simple. A ref called for a PI, the head ref announced prematurely, and a better placed ref called it off and convinced it was a legal face guarding (legal in the NFL and not in the NCAA) and that the contact was minimal. At best, the Lions could have hoped for offsetting penalties (O face mask and D PI) and repeat the down. At worst, they could have been penalized for offensive PI and sent back 15 years. Of course, that last part might have helped them and avoid the disastrous 10 yards punt and --perhaps-- pinned the Cowboys deep in their zone. The game could also have been different for a number of calls such as the running into the kicker and imaginary holdings or others that were not called. That is just the way games are played and officiated. This one just suffered from the head ref NOT miking an explanation on the field --which is allowed when flags are picked up. The Detroit coach received the explanation – which he did not care for anymore than legions of Lions’ fans.
All of that being said, we will never know if the Vaqueros would not have marched 100 yards on the deflated Lions as they played horrible defense and allowed multiple fourth downs.
In the end, the Cowboys prevailed because they gambled on 4th downs and the Lions … did not and punted the game away. The one who wanted the win the most did play accordingly.
Losses do hurt and I understand the frustration of the Lions but an objective observer --not claiming to be one-- might point out that Dame Fortune was on the Detroit side all year. 'member that crazy FG in London? I get the frustration … I still mull over how Stanford was robbed by the refs at Notre Dame and cannot stand the Irish since that day! 
I was watching an ad for free glasses (I need some lol) and I guess I misinterpreted the ad…but I did stumble on this 
Some of you may remember the NBA Western Conference Finals of (IIRC) 2002, Lakers vs Kings. I’ve heard even Laker fans concede that the series was blatantly mis-officiated, especially Game 6. It stung for a long time. But I now see that even though the Kings were the better team, and even though they were playing against not only the Lakers but also the refs, in the end it was the Kings alone who repeatedly failed to hit the basket in OT of Game 7.
Champions get it done. The Kings just didn’t in 2002, and the Lions just didn’t yesterday.
^^
Haha, you can add the 2006 NBA finals which was stolen by the Heat with the cunning assistance of a certain Crawford. The officiating was simply horrendous and the Mavs were robbed like in the Sherwood Forest.
Well then, I’ll add the lousy officiating of the Seahawks-Steelers Superbowl a few years back. Coach Mike Holmgrem is a fair guy but he couldn’t hold his tongue after the game.
Such strange bedfellows…what was the deal with Chris Christie, and has this already been discussed?
^
It’s pretty simple:
Texas - 38 electoral votes in a red state
NJ - 14 electoral votes in a blue state
^^^LoL, that’s what DH said. Could it really be that simple?
That’s what my 19yo poli sci major said.
I went to a movie yesterday and got home when the game had probably 5 minutes or so left. I said to DH, “Wow, some guy in Jerry Jones’ suite looks just like Chris Christie. Ha ha, I’m silly I know.”
DH said, “Uh, you’re not that silly…that’s Chris Christie, and he’s been coming to the games for awhile. Catch up, honey!”
So I wonder how lopsided Saturday’s score will be.
Which game?
Well . . . maybe the silver lining in the non-interference call and subsequent 10 yard punt is that the Cowboys fans will stop whining about greased football conspiracies. Do you suppose?
In all seriousness (?), I heard that Chris Christie is a life-long Cowboys fan - in fact, he will be in Green Bay next weekend for the Packers-Cowboys game with Jerry Jones and company.
I have no idea what greased football conspiracies you are talking about …
@xiggi claims that the Great Romo Field Goal Fumble vs Seattle in the play offs was the result of a greased football conspiracy.
Haha – here you go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yh1DyvTuDA
As far as conspiracy, the NFL changed the rule about who gets to keep the balls before handling hem to the centers. No more “greasy” and wet balls since then. There was no “conspiracy” but simply poor sportsmanship. To be clear, the Seahawks ball boy intentionally gave the Cowboys a slick, unused ball, leading to Romo’s botched hold in Dallas’ playoff loss in Seattle. It denied a chance for a 19-yard field goal that would have given the Cowboys a 23-21 lead with 1:14 remaining.
Partly as a result, the NFL competition committee tweaked the kicking ball rules after the 2007 season, including adding a numbering system to the balls. Since then, the ball marked No. 1 is used until it’s no longer available.
Who would think that when it comes to Seattle! 
PS Fwiw, without the play of Number 27, Romo scores a TD and it would have been one of his first great escapades. Rather than carrying that undeserved fumbler image, he would have been known for the get-go as one of the greatest pocket-aware QBs,