The Detroit Lions are the NFC North champions, and while they owe a lot to the Vikings’ Nick Mullens and his four interceptions, the officiating staff also played a big role in Sunday’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium.Vikings fans were outraged by a series of questionable calls that led to the Lions’ 30-24 victory.
The scariest thing of all was that there were 9 minutes left in the first half and the game was tied 7-7. Minnesota running back Patrick Jones II was flagged for carrying the passer on a 2nd-and-26 play, giving the Lions an automatic first down at the Vikings’ 46-yard line. Had the flag not been thrown, the Lions would have gone up 3rd and 21.
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Instead, they helped score their first run when Michael Badgley hit to shortstop to give Detroit a 10-7 lead.On the play before the touchdown on the same drive, Vikings quarterback Jordan Hicks hit Jared Goff with a pass. The ball came loose and Cam Bynum scooped it up and ran it back for a defensive touchdown.The officials called it a field play, but the replay officials overturned the call and ruled that Goff’s hand went forward for an incomplete pass.
It was a close call, but replays showed Hicks made contact before Goff could move his arm forward.This left a 10 point margin in favor of the Lions. One of the other calls that caught the attention of Vikings fans came in the fourth quarter when officials were called for illegal contact on Jaylin Williams when Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds appeared to run into him on his route.
This happened on 3rd and 7 with 4:21 left, giving the Lions another first down instead of 4th-and-7, which gave them about two minutes on the clock, giving the Vikings a chance to to take the risk. I had no choice. It ultimately led to Mullens’ final interception. The last drive.
