Quote:I haven't thought about that game in a long time. The game was in Detroit back in 2005 and it was the only time in 4 regular season games that the Lions have beaten the Ravens. The Ravens became unhinged that day and it raised the question whether Brian Billick was the answer moving forward as Ravens HC. Billick ended up lasting another couple of seasons in that role. 

 

The Lions game the week before the Ravens game relates to the theme of this thread as well.  In one of the very few times during Joey Harrington's playing career with the Lions, he appeared to come through with a likely eventual game winning TD pass.(Greg Olson was the Lions QB coach at the time). This one was to TE Marcus Pollard with less than a minute in the game. Amazingly, Referee Gerry Austin reversed the call, saying basically that Pollard didn't have control of the ball inbounds. This despite the fact that there WASN'T indisputable evidence to reverse the call.    No wonder why Jon Gruden and Gerry Austin get along so well in the MNF TV booth!  

 

Calls like that one, the reversal of Calvin Johnson's TD in the 2010 opener in Chicago that likely cost the Lions a win, the officials deciding not to call pass interference against Cowboys LB Anthony Hitchens (vs.Brandon Pettigrew) in a playoff game less than two years ago  (after the flag was thrown), and the officials missing the illegal batted ball (after Calvin Johnson fumbled at the Seahawks 1 yard line) out of the end zone in Seattle by LB K.J. Wright last season have greatly adversely affected my enjoyment of the NFL. Though I still watch more games than most people in the regular season, I used to watch even more games. Plus,  I cut down my preseason viewership of NFL games considerably.   

 

The Calvin Johnson non-touchdown you are referring to prompted me to start a thread about the definition of a catch. I will never understand why the rule named after him was just a clarification, not a change to call such plays completed passes.

 

You probably don't want to think about it, but the Lions would have won if Calvin Johnson crossed the goal line without fumbling. He just needed to hold onto the ball a couple more seconds and dropped it on his own. Getting a free first down there would not guarantee anything.

 

I can't remember the opponent, but at another game in Detroit Gerry Austin, who was in the booth, criticized the officials for not calling DPI on a Lions player who grabbed a receiver's arm.

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