Both the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions found themselves frustrated by questionable officiating during their Thursday Night Football meeting in Week 14 — a game Detroit won 44–30.
Just two weeks after Dallas benefited from some debatable calls in their Thanksgiving victory over the Chiefs, the Cowboys were on the receiving end of several controversial decisions in Detroit. Although the officiating crew made mistakes that affected both teams, the calls against Dallas had a far greater impact on the flow and outcome of the game.
Dallas ended the night with seven penalties for 76 yards, while Detroit had eight for 50, but those numbers don’t capture the numerous missed or declined penalties that shaped key moments.
Below is a breakdown of the most-discussed sequences from the game.
Early Chaos: A Safety Overturned
The drama began early when Detroit appeared to record a first-quarter safety. Officials initially ruled that Dak Prescott was taken down in the end zone, but after review, the ruling was reversed because Prescott was deemed to have been contacted outside the goal line before being dragged back.
The play left viewers divided on whether the reversal was correct.
Missed Offsides on Dallas
Soon after, the crew failed to call what looked like a blatant offsides against Dallas on a key 3rd-down play. Believing he had a free play, Jared Goff launched the ball deep — only for the pass to fall incomplete. Without the penalty, the Lions were forced to punt.
Uncalled Holding Sets Up Detroit Touchdown
Another non-call drew attention in the second quarter. On David Montgomery’s 35-yard touchdown run, Penei Sewell visibly grabbed linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s shoulder pads, preventing him from making a play at the line. No flag was thrown, and Detroit extended its lead.
Offsetting Penalties Cost Dallas Red-Zone Opportunity
With just over two minutes left in the half and Dallas down 17–6, tight end Jake Ferguson was penalized for illegal use of hands — on the same play where Detroit committed what appeared to be clear defensive pass interference against George Pickens near the goal line. The Cowboys’ penalty wiped out what would’ve been a deep DPI call that likely placed them inside the red zone. Dallas instead settled for another field goal.
Another Apparent Miss: No Flag After Head Push
Officials also ignored a moment when Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford shoved Lions returner Jacob Saylors’ head into the turf after a kickoff tackle — a blatant personal foul that somehow went uncalled.
Late OPI Call on Ferguson Raises Questions
Late in the fourth quarter, Ferguson was involved again, drawing a puzzling offensive pass interference flag — one the Lions decided to decline. After the game, Dak Prescott didn’t hide his disbelief.
> “Am I going to get fined for this? … That was awful,” Prescott said, per Tommy Yarrish of Cowboys.com. “The ref told me [Ferguson] aggressively pulled through. I’ve never seen that called before.”
Conclusion
While both teams were hurt by questionable officiating, Dallas felt the sting more often. Still, the Lions’ dominance over a struggling Cowboys defense meant the officiating wasn’t the main reason for the loss. As usual, hopes that the league will discipline the officiating crew are slim.
