ESPN
The NFL has finally commented on the Monday night’s officiating controversy that has angered fans.
During tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Lions and the Packers defensive end Trey Flowers was called for two phantom hands to the face penalties in the fourth quarter that helped the Packers overcome a 13 point deficit.
What “hands to the face” looks like
From a punt to a TD, all because of the refs. Just disgusting. pic.twitter.com/K2ho1fBFEy
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 15, 2019
Lions lose, refs win on Monday Night Footballpic.twitter.com/r3raT2R3wV
— NFL on ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsNFL) October 15, 2019
The refs called Trey Flowers for hands to the face twice. Neither were correct.
One gave the Packers a touchdown and the other gave them the game. pic.twitter.com/eGq01y32ra
— BroBible (@BroBible) October 15, 2019
After the game, Flowers spoke to the media and disagreed with the calls on the field.
““I didn’t think hands to the chest was a penalty,” “I thought hands to the face, but I had him right here in the chest. The second time I changed it to right here [another spot on the chest]. That’s part of a move that I do and, yeah. So, nah, I don’t think that was a penalty, but they did, so . . .
“They saw something different than what actually happened and they called what they thought they saw. I was doing it all game. I didn’t know that was a flag to the chest, so I could change it to [another spot on the collar]. They called it again.”
Today, while at the owners meeting in Florida, NFL VP of Operations Troy Vincent admitted refs made an error on the second hands to the face call in the fourth quarter.
NFL VP of Operations Troy Vincent says at owners meetings that the second hands to the face penalty on Lions DL Trey Flowers in last night's game against the Packers shouldn't have been called. "After you review it, the foul wasn’t there."
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) October 15, 2019
NFL exec Troy Vincent, here in Florida for this Fall Meeting, says the second hands to the face call last night is “not something that you want to see called.” Vincent says he’ll speak with Mrs. Ford today and reach out to GM Bob Quinn, as well.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2019
Refs are going to need to be held accountable if they continue to be making the difference in game