DETROIT — The Green Bay Packers benefited from a major controversy that ensued at the end of the first half of Thursday’s game with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
With 2:16 left in the second quarter and the Packers facing fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line of Detroit, Packers offensive lineman Anthony Belton was flagged for a false start that would’ve either encouraged the Packers to kick a field goal or made the fourth-down conversion a lot more difficult.
After officials convened, they announced that Packers coach Matt LaFleur had actually called a timeout before the penalty occurred.
But that’s not what the replay showed.
In a view that shows the offensive line and sideline, LaFleur clearly did not begin signaling for a timeout until after Belton moved early. Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said that it’s possible LaFleur called the timeout verbally, but again, his face is covered by his play sheet until after Belton moves.
The Packers scored on fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard catch by Romeo Doubs to go up, 17-7, with 2:12 left in the second quarter.
It’s expected that there will be a pool report with the officiating crew to explain the call after the game.
Earlier in the quarter, Detroit was on the wrong end of another controversial call. On a fourth-down conversion that went for a touchdown, Dontayvion Wicks appeared to potentially still be bobbling the football when getting the first of two feet down in the end zone. Officials confirmed the call as the Packers took a 10-0 lead.
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