Anyone expecting the controversy surrounding Detroit’s loss to Pittsburgh to disappear quickly was mistaken — especially once Rex Ryan stepped in.

On Monday morning’s episode of ESPN’s Get Up, the outspoken former coach delivered a blunt assessment of the officiating that wiped out two late Lions touchdowns.

While Ryan acknowledged that the final offensive pass interference ruling may have been correct, he had no such restraint when addressing the earlier penalty that negated a score involving rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa.
Ryan didn’t sugarcoat his opinion.

He explained that the defender — not TeSlaa — was responsible for initiating contact on the play that erased Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown, calling the decision a glaring mistake. According to Ryan, the incorrect flag didn’t just hurt Detroit in the moment — it potentially altered the outcome of the game and jeopardized the Lions’ playoff positioning.

The comments immediately reignited frustration among Lions fans, made even more memorable by the fact that Ryan delivered them while sporting a Lions-themed holiday sweater on air.

The penalty that changed everything
While much of the postgame anger centered on the overturned touchdown at the very end of regulation, Ryan shifted the focus to an earlier moment that he believes truly flipped the script.

The offensive pass interference call against TeSlaa earlier in the drive erased a touchdown before Detroit was forced into desperation mode. Instead of putting points on the board, the Lions were pushed back and forced to continue the drive under mounting pressure — a sequence that ultimately led to the chaotic finish.

TeSlaa had been one of Detroit’s more effective contributors that night, and the play could have been a defining moment for the rookie.

Instead, it vanished in a flash of yellow.
“Atrocious,” in Ryan’s words
Ryan later reiterated his stance, labeling the call “atrocious” and emphasizing that offensive pass interference should not be assessed when the receiver is simply absorbing contact created by a defender.

In his view, the standard for OPI wasn’t met, and the mistake set off a chain reaction that never should have occurred.

A familiar voice echoing fan frustration
Ryan’s delivery was loud, as always, and critics may argue he thrives on controversy. But his comments resonated because they mirrored what many Lions supporters were already feeling.

Yes, Detroit had opportunities to play better earlier in the game. That much is undeniable. Still, having two touchdowns erased by questionable officiating makes it difficult to dismiss the impact those calls had.
Rather than letting the discussion cool off, Ryan reignited it — and for a fan base watching its postseason hopes hang in the balance, the frustration is far from fading.