Replacement refs cost us the game on the td??

[sb2sb2sb]

Okay..

I read an artIcle today that said in the Kevin Smith td go-ahead td, there was an illegal lineman 2 yards down the line of scrimmage. What would that have meant for the rams, if that was actually called? Would there have been a 10 second runoff which would have forced the lions to kick a fg?

Looking at the replay it seems the refs did miss it, if its an actual rule. Can someone clear the truth behind this for me? Was the article coming out of left field or completely true. If so what would have been the consequences of the penalty?

[Bing69]

If and buts, is there really any point in going back over the game? Its still a notch in the loss column, look towards the next game.

[sb2sb2sb]

I think it matters when it's on the last play of the game... not some random play in the middle

Don't get me wrong, happy with our performance. But if you look at my post I'm not making ifs and buts. I'm just asking for clarification/confirmation about if Kevin Smith's td was correct or not.

[tomahawk247]

There should have been a penalty on the play, and you could argue it was significant as the downfield blocker suggests the play is a run, drawing in the linebackers

At the same time, it's not like it's something that can be challenged after the fact, and not like they will change it.

[Azul e Oro]

Pretty clear, upon review, that it was what Dunbar reacted to & that the lineman was a clear two yards( edit: ok, maybe a yard and a half) beyond the LOS when Stafford threw the ball. Certainly could have been called,imo, but it would've been hard to see live & at ground level; the zeb was close but looking at the linemen who were engaged for holding,etc. Definitely a 10 sec run off if it had been called which probably would have given The Lions enough time to get their kick unit out for the start ofthe clock with about 5 secs left,iirc. Doesn't explain away the other breakdowns earlier in the same drive, though.

FYI, here's the relevant NFL rule:


8-2-2:
It is a foul when an ineligible offensive player (including a T-formation quarterback), prior to a legal forward pass:
(a) advances beyond his line, after losing contact with an opponent at the line of scrimmage;
(b) loses contact with an opponent downfield after the initial charge and then continues to advance or move laterally; or
(c) moves downfield without contacting an opponent at the line of scrimmage.

The above restrictions end when the ball leaves the passer's hand.

Note: The guideline for officials to use for an ineligible player(s) to be illegally downfield: the offending player must be more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage prior to the pass.

Penalty: Ineligible offensive player downfield: loss of 5 yards from previous spot.

[Curly Horns]

Replacement Refs Suck!!!

Get Rid of the Scab Rats!!!!

[berg8309]

It's also highly possible the regular refs would have missed it as well. The hyperbole from the media and general fan comments (Not anything specific from this board mind you) suggests that the regular refs would have made every single blown call. It's not true. The regular refs get blasted all the time for missing holding call, illegal movement, pass interference, contact past 5 yards, you name it. So while it's fun to blame it on replacement refs, that assumes that the regular refs would have caught it when they might not have.

So in conclusion, let's drop the word replacement. Refs suck!