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Lions throw shade on contested two-point play with tackle-eligible call on first snap at Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell was given the final say on a contested tackle that was eligible — nine months after officials penalized his team nullifying a potential game-winning 2-point conversion.

On the Lions’ first offensive play in their return to the home of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Dan Skipper called in for a vanilla 5-yard run by David Montgomery.

Skipper was the tackle officials deemed eligible when Taylor Decker caught Jared Goff’s 2-point pass on Dec. 30 after the Lions pulled within 20-19 with 23 seconds left.

Because Decker caught the pass, the Lions were penalized for an ineligible receiver. Goff threw an interception on the second attempt, but the Cowboys were offside. A third attempt ended on an incompletion just short of the goal line, giving Dallas the one-point victory.

Goff said he was confident Decker, Detroit’s starting left tackle, had declared himself eligible. A frustrated Campbell said he told the officials before the match what he planned to do if the situation arose.

The loss cost Detroit a shot at the top seed in the NFC, and the Lions lost at San Francisco in the conference championship game.

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AP N.F.L.: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl