The Week 17 matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys continues to be hotly debated in NFL circles following an illegal touching penalty called on Detroit that would have wiped away a game-winning two-point conversion. Lions coaches and players have insisted everything was above-board — and although playoff assignments may be stripped from referee Brad Allen and his crew, it will be of little solace to Lions fans who thought their team was robbed at AT&T Stadium.
On the newest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce discussed the controversial ending to the pivotal Lions-Cowboys game — and whether Detroit proved too deceptive for even the officials, let alone the Dallas players.
Travis Kelce blasts NFL media who called for Mike Tomlin to be fired
Jason Kelce breaks it down
Jason Kelce explained that the Lions’ thinking was to confuse the Cowboys’ defense by sending linemen Taylor Decker and Dan Skipper over to the referee Allen — with Skipper‘s job to make it look like he was reporting. Kelce revealed that his Philadelphia Eagles have run conversion attempts similar to this one, and among the coaching points is to run at an official and leave doubts in the defense as to who is reporting as eligible for the two-point attempt.
Kelce said he did not see Skipper make the universally-accepted “reporting” sign — a downward “wiping” motion on the chest. This directly contradicts Allen’s contention that Skipper, not Decker, had reported as eligible for the play. That miscommunication is what caused the illegal touching penalty following Decker’s catch in the end zone.
Kelce called Detroit’s play design “clever,” and Jason and Travis agreed that it was a “terrible way” for a great game to end. Detroit’s loss means the Lions need to defeat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday and hope Dallas loses to Washington in order to clinch the #2 seed in the NFC.
“It was executed to perfection,” Jason said of the two-point try.
Kelce a Pro Bowler again
The elder Kelce this week received another individual honor beyond the successful podcast he shares with his brother. Jason was named to his seventh Pro Bowl since 2014, further consolidating his position as one of the best centers in football. The 36-year-old is also hoping to be named an All-Pro for the sixth time in his career — that announcement is expected later this month.
And as for Travis? He’s a Pro Bowler, too. The younger Kelce hasn’t enjoyed his best season in Kansas City, but the Chiefs tight end has been selected to the Pro Bowl Games for the ninth consecutive year. The 34-year-old needs 16 receiving yards in Week 18 to hit 1,000 for the eighth season running, while he is seven receptions away from the fourth 100-catch campaign of his Hall of Fame career.
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