Detroit vs Referees: Lions can't blame refs for loss to Packers

Did the refs get it right tonight?

DETROIT – After a season, heck multiple seasons, of questionable calls against the Detroit Lions in key games, we tracked every penalty handed out during Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers.

Aside from one call against cornerback Darius Slay in the fourth quarter, Lions fans don't have much to complain about. They even got some help with a series of penalties against Green Bay that stalled a drive and led to a Lions go-ahead score.

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Here's a breakdown of every penalty in the game, won by the Packers 31-24. Green Bay was the more penalized team with nine flags costing them 60 yards. The Lions were penalized seven times for 30 yards.

First Quarter

(8:57) Lions - False start, Graham Glasgow, 5 yards - Our take: Obvious call.

(7:40) Packers - False start, Brian Bulaga, 5 yards - Our take: Obvious call.

(1:27) Lions - Pass interference, Golden Tate, 10 yards and negated a 14-yard reception for a first down at the Green Bay 9-yard line - Our take: Hmmm ... here we go. There was a push off, but it was questionable.

 

Second Quarter

(11:39) Lions - Holding, Don Cary, 5 yards - Our take: Sigh. Packers had gained 6 yards on the play, but the penalty gave them an automatic first down.

(9:32) Lions - Holding, Zack Zenner, declined - Our take: Stafford got sacked on the play.

(6:55) Packers - Offside, Datone Jones, 5 yards - Our take: He jumped, but Stafford didn't take advantage

(4:33) Packers - Holding, Jeff Janis, 10 yards - Our take: Wide receiver hold negates 18-yard gain.

(3:30) Packers - Holding, TJ Lang, 10 yards - Our take: Second hold in a row in the Packers.

(3:01) Packers - Illegal block, Geronimo Allison, declined - Our take: That's three in a row on the Pack, two on their receivers for illegal blocks

 

(0:23) Packers - Delay of game, 5 yards, Aaron Rodgers - Our take: Obvious call, if strange coming right after the kickoff

Third Quarter

(13:09) Lions - Holding, Don Carey, declined - Our take: Second penalty of the night for Carey. This one is declined because of an 11-yard completion for a first down

(11:03) Packers - False start, TJ Lang, 5 yards - Our take: The second penalty of the night on TJ Lang. We'll credit a rocking Ford Field for this one.

(2:45) Packers - False start, Lane Taylor, 5 yards - Our take: Gotta love that Ford Field crowd.

Fouth Quarter

(14:06) Packers - Illegal block above the waist, TJ Lang, 10 yards - Our take: Lang is having a game to forget with this third penalty of the game. Didn't help the Lions much. Rodgers hit Geronimo Allison for 31 yards on the next play.

(5:41) Lions - Holding, Darius Slay, 5 yards - Our take: He tugged the jersey, but come on, let 'em play defense.

(5:26) Lions - 12 on the field, 5 yards - Our take: Rodgers rushed them to the line and caught Detroit sleeping. And then he converted the third and five.

Total: Lions: 7 penalties for -30 yards; Packers: 9 penalties for -60 yards