Numerous NFL executives believe that officiating robbed the Lions of a playoff spot
Even though they had made it to the playoffs, the Detroit Lions didn’t make it. beating the Green Bay Packers In Week 18, the last game of the regular season. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, more than a few league execs believe the failure of the officiating crew in Seattle’s Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams played no small part in why the Lions didn’t make it.
Multiple controversial officiating calls that directly benefitted the Seahawks Schefter stated that the NFL is examining them closely. They include an incorrectly assigned running into the kicker penalty, and failure to penalize Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith for an apparent intentional grounding foul.
Schefter writes
ESPN received multiple reports that the Rams were upset at the officiating, while the Lions were disturbed by it, and that the competition committee was frustrated. The calls benefited the Seahawks, hurt the Rams and ultimately impacted the Lions, who needed Seattle to lose in order to have a chance to claim the NFC’s final wild-card spot.
Schefter also quoted a league source who was furious for the Lions.
“The Lions should be livid,” one source told ESPN. “It was an awful way for them to end their season.”
Seattle’s win eliminated the Lions before Detroit kicked off the Sunday night game in Green Bay. The Lions’ 20-16 win over the Packers eliminated the Packers and earned the spot for the Seahawks. In the wild card round, Seattle will play San Francisco.