Packers Left Frustrated After Questionable Calls Led To Loss Against Lions

During a highly anticipated game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, the game was not decided by high-powered offenses or suffocating defense. Instead, the game was decided by questionable calls from the officials.

Several questionable flags were thrown during the game; the most questionable of them all went against the Packers. During the team’s postgame media session, safety Xavier McKinney made his frustrations known, calling the officiating “bulls–-.”

McKinney should expect a fine after sharing his opinion about the officiating, as the league has a strict policy prohibiting public criticism of game officials and may fine and/or suspend players or club employees who do so.

“I don’t know how the NFL [is] going to treat it, but I’m not a big fan of the refs right now,” McKinney told reporters in the locker room. “I don’t think it’s great officiating if I’m being completely honest. I think it’s bulls–- a lot of the times.”

McKinney pointed to a call in the third quarter when Lions receiver Amon-Ra St.Brown was wrapped up in what looked like a tackle, but because he was on top of a Packers defender, he thought he wasn’t down yet.

St. Brown got up and kept running as if the play wasn’t dead. No audible whistle, so Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt tackled St. Brown.

As this happened, St. Brown’s leg hit umpire Terry Killens Jr. in the groin. Killens Jr. went down and threw a flag while on his back. Unnecessary roughness on Wyatt.

The Lions used the penalty to march down the field and score a touchdown, taking a 17-14 lead.

“I think there are drives where they make calls that don’t even make any sense,” McKinney said. “We tried to get him down and then their player hit the ref, and he falls. He gets mad on the ground, and he just throws the flag. He don’t even know who hit him.

“So it’s just like, it just be bulls–t that’s going on, bulls–t calls.”

Packers coach Matt LaFleur spoke carefully about the officiating at first, but he made it clear he was unhappy the team was penalized when there was no clear whistle to end the play.

“There was no whistle blown, and the guy continued to run, and our guy didn’t hear a whistle. He continued to play too, and then we get called for a penalty,” LaFleur said. “So, I don’t know. They were trying to tell me the play was obviously dead. I’m like, ‘How do you know if you don’t hear a whistle?'” 

Referee Alex Moore didn’t hear a whistle either. In a post-game report, he stated the play was over as if it was known by all the players on the field.

“We ruled that the play was over,” Moore said. “I can’t honestly hear if there was a whistle or not, but the tackler made the tackle; the play was over. Then, there was an additional action, and he basically tackled him again with force after the play was over.” 

While this was the most controversial call made during the game, several flags were thrown against the Packers for roughing the passer.

Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks was called for one of those roughing penalties; he declined to speak with reporters after the game.

He’s one of the few Packers players who received questionable calls during the game; those who did not speak know they will not get fined by the NFL for talking about the officials.