What's Your Call on Controversial Flag in Lions-Cowboys NFL Wild Card Clash?

Everyone has an opinion about a flag thrown for pass interference, then reversed in Sunday’s playoff game between the Detroit Tigers and Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys won, 24-20. (Screenshot: ESPN video)

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The Detroit Free Press has compiled a list of opinions about the controversial non-call in Sunday’s Detroit Lions heartbreaking playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20.

Tweets and Facebook news feeds are full of posts about officials’ decision to reverse a pass interference penalty called against Anthony Hitchens in a third-down pass to Brandon Pettigrew by referee Pete Morelli.

“The Detroit Lions were hosed,” Mike Foss wrote on usatoday.com. “ ... Detroit has every reason to feel cheated this morning. ... No, the officials Sunday night weren’t corrupt. They weren’t plotting against Detroit. They were incompetent, and that’s far worse.”

“Lions fans have a right to be miffed,” Bill Barnwell of grantland.com wrote. “But the idea that the game was somehow rigged? That’s absurd. …”

Tell Us

• What do you think about the non-call? Were the Lions robbed?

“The angry crowd with virtual pitchforks screaming conspiracy is actually better for the league. People would be talking about the NFL anyway, but now there will non-stop screaming about this call over the course of the next week. Most of it will come from Lions fans angry about their team getting hosed. The Lions did get hosed,” Will Brinson, cbssports.com, said, lowering his voice for effect, “although they didn’t play particularly well in the second half, with just 140 total yards. ...

“But the stage in question here turned it into a gaffe and the inability of the NFL’s on-field voice to express what happened when it was happening turned it into a complete flub. And someone owes the public an explanation as to why it all happened.”

“... Holy cow. What a crime,” Jason Whitlock of espn.com said. “The credibility of the league has been hurt. Someone should be fired.”

You can read more on the Detroit Free Press website.