The Detroit Lions’ Week 10 win over the Washington Commanders has sparked major controversy after a report revealed that NFL officials deliberately chose not to enforce a rule that should have resulted in an ejection. The decision, now under heavy scrutiny, has reignited debate about the consistency of officiating across the league.

 What Went Down in Washington

During Detroit’s 44–22 victory, tensions flared between Washington’s defense and the officiating crew. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was flagged for making physical contact with an official after a two-point conversion attempt — an action that normally results in automatic ejection under league rules.

However, according to a report from ProFootballTalk, “Following Detroit’s two-point try, Kinlaw made contact with umpire Brandon Cruse. While he was penalized, officials decided not to eject him. Sources say the crew didn’t want to eject two players on consecutive plays.”

The rationale? Another Commanders player had already been ejected on the previous play, and the officials reportedly didn’t want to escalate things further.

The issue, of course, is that personal discretion isn’t part of the rulebook — and the officials’ decision to overlook a mandatory ejection has raised eyebrows across the NFL.

The Rule Is Absolute — But It Was Ignored

Contacting an official is one of the NFL’s few zero-tolerance offenses. The rule clearly mandates immediate disqualification, no exceptions.

As ProFootballTalk put it, “That shouldn’t matter. If the act calls for an ejection, the player must be ejected. The fact another player was tossed one play earlier doesn’t make it acceptable to ignore the rule.”

Fans and analysts quickly caught on, flooding social media with frustration:“So if one guy gets ejected, the next play’s a free pass?”

Such selective enforcement only fuels doubts about fairness and accountability within NFL officiating — an issue that has been under the spotlight all season.

The Fallout: Fine Expected, No Suspension

While Kinlaw is unlikely to face suspension, league insiders expect a fine to be issued in the coming days. The call — or lack thereof — didn’t alter the game’s outcome, as the Lions dominated start to finish, led by head coach Dan Campbell and a sharp performance on both sides of the ball.

Still, the incident goes beyond the scoreboard. When referees decide to bend the rules rather than apply them consistently, it damages the league’s efforts to promote integrity and protect its officials.

Bigger Picture

The NFL reportedly won’t revisit the situation now that the game is in the books. Yet for many, this episode underscores the league’s ongoing battle to balance rule enforcement, game flow, and public perception.

By every standard in the rulebook, Javon Kinlaw should have been ejected. The fact that he wasn’t — simply because another teammate had already been tossed — highlights the kind of inconsistency that continues to frustrate players, coaches, and fans alike.

Even in a convincing Lions victory, officiating once again became part of the story — and not for the right reasons.