💥 BREAKING NEWS: Cowboys rocked by a shocking pass interference call against the Lions that could rewrite the game’s fate.QQ

Cowboys on receiving end of controversial pass interference call vs. Lions – Yahoo Sports

In a stunning turn of events on Thursday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys found themselves victimized by one of the most debated officiating decisions of the season. Tight end Jake Ferguson was hit with a highly questionable offensive pass interference (OPI) penalty late in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions, sparking outrage from fans, analysts, and even drawing a defensive response from the Lions’ own linebacker. This call not only stalled a crucial drive but may have altered the outcome of a high-stakes matchup at Ford Field, where the Lions ultimately triumphed 44-30.

The drama unfolded with under four minutes left in the game and the Cowboys trailing 37-27. Facing a third-and-3 from the Lions’ 11-yard line, quarterback Dak Prescott targeted Ferguson in the end zone. Ferguson attempted to swim through coverage provided by Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, but the pass fell incomplete—and then the flag flew. Referee Shawn Hochuli’s crew called OPI on Ferguson, despite replays showing no clear grab or push-off from the tight end. Instead, it appeared Anzalone initiated contact by grabbing Ferguson. Prime Video’s rules analyst Terry McAulay was quick to dismantle the call during the broadcast: “I just see him kind of swimming through. I don’t see offensive pass interference. He swims through, which is perfectly legal, and then gets grabbed. I don’t see offensive pass interference at all.”

The Lions, holding a 10-point lead, opted to decline the penalty since the pass was incomplete, forcing the Cowboys into a fourth-down situation. Rather than pushing for a touchdown that could have made it a one-score game, Dallas settled for a 29-yard field goal from kicker Brandon Aubrey, narrowing the gap to 37-30. The Lions wasted no time responding, marching down the field for another touchdown on a run by Jahmyr Gibbs, ballooning the score to 44-30 and effectively ending any comeback hopes. Prescott’s late interception by D.J. Reed sealed the deal, dropping the Cowboys to 6-6-1 and snapping their three-game winning streak.

The call didn’t go unnoticed by the players involved. Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, who was on the receiving end of Ferguson’s move, took to X to defend the penalty: “Y’all are weird.. you can’t grab someone’s jersey and sling through like that. My body didn’t do that for no reason. We declined it anyways.” While Anzalone admitted his bias as a Lions player, the replay suggested the contact was mutual at best, raising questions about consistency in pass interference calls—would a similar action by a defender be flagged as DPI?.

Fans across social media erupted in fury, labeling the officiating as a “disaster” and accusing the refs of robbing the Cowboys of a fair shot. One X user, Alec Nolan, posted: “Absolutely ridiculous offensive PI on Jake Ferguson / What the hell? This is terrible / #cowboys.” Kevin Kelley chimed in: “Offensive pass interference on ⁦@dallascowboys⁩ ?? Terrible call that affects the game huge! Would have been first and goal, instead, 4th down. Ferguson swam through which TV official agreed is perfectly legal.” Cameron Magruder questioned: “How was that offensive pass interference??? / Serious question.” Even neutral observers like Andy from Austin called it out: “WAS THAT CALL A JOKE? NASTY SWIM MOVE THEN GETS TACKLED? AND ITS OFFENSIVE PI!” The backlash extended beyond X, with former NFL quarterback suggesting the refs might have intentionally hurt the Cowboys’ chances.

This isn’t the first time the Cowboys have been embroiled in officiating controversies, but this one stings particularly hard given the game’s implications for their playoff push. Ferguson, who finished with over 50 receiving yards, will likely remember the night for all the wrong reasons. As the dust settles, the NFL may face calls for better review processes on such pivotal penalties. For now, the Cowboys lick their wounds and prepare for the next battle, while fans continue to vent their frustrations online.

INSANE CALL, The refs called this an offensive pass interference on #Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson — Even though Detroit linebacker Alex Anzalone was the one who grabbed Ferguson., , Detroit …

instagram.comINSANE CALL, The refs called this an offensive pass interference on #Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson — Even though Detroit linebacker Alex Anzalone was the one who grabbed Ferguson., , Detroit …

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