Detroit Lions Screwed By Refs: NFL Reacts To 'Ridiculous' Pass Interference Penalty Flag Call Against Dallas Cowboys; Pettigrew-Hitchens Reactions

Were the Detroit Lions robbed of a crucial penalty call against the Dallas Cowboys in their wildcard round game of the NFL playoffs? Former refs, players and fans certainly believe so. When Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a pass to receiver Brandon Pettigrew, Cowboys defensive safety Anthony Hitchens appeared to be called for a pass interference penalty... which was then controversially rescinded. Of course, it didn't help that Stafford terribly under-threw the pass and Pettigrew had no chance to catch the ball... and that the Lions still would have had to score to stay in the game, but NFL fans and talking heads are debating the call endlessly today.

Up 20-17 and facing a third-down and one with over 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter of their wildcard matchup against the Cowboys, Lions QB Stafford threw the ball to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, with flags being thrown for pass interference.

Unfortunately for Lions fans, the refs, led by Pete Morelli, then picked up the flag, saying there was no foul on the play.

Fox's NFL commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman believed it to be a penalty, as did former NFL head of officiating, Mike Pereira.

After the Lions punted, on the next series the Cowboys scored a go-ahead touchdown.

According ESPN, following the game, Morelli told pool reporters that:

"The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference," Morelli said in a pool report. "We got other information from another official from a different angle that thought the contact was minimal and didn't warrant pass interference. He thought it was face guarding."

After the game, NFL.com's Marc Sessler reports Stafford as saying, "I thought it was a penalty... It's their decision. I don't have to understand it."

His coach, Jim Caldwell, added that he "didn't get a good enough explanation", for the rescinded call.

Pettigrew, for his part, told NFL.com's Albert Breer: "I didn't get an explanation. It was ridiculous. ... He ran through me."

--> RT @AroundTheNFL: Lions' Pettigrew to @AlbertBreer on picked-up flag: 'It was ridiculous.' https://t.co/HPPx1qMpLD

— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) January 5, 2015

Pettigrew's full quote went further, saying: "I thought it was ridiculous, to be honest. But there's nothing I can do about it ... He ran through me pretty much, trying to get back to the ball. To me, it was obvious. To them they made whatever call and picked up the flag."

Former NFL ref Jim Daopoulos tweeted out it was a bad call:

Can't answer everyone but this was a foul and should not have been picked...I have no idea or reason for the flag pick up...puzzling!

— Jim Daopoulos (@RefereeJimD) January 5, 2015

And yes Dez Bryant Should have been penalized for being on the field without a helmet. Really confusing situation! — Jim Daopoulos (@RefereeJimD) January 5, 2015

He echoed those sentiments on ESPN's Sportscenter today:

Unsurprisingly, social media exploded over the call, with many also pointing out that Pettigrew held onto the face mask of Hitchens during the play.

Can't turn your head to play the ball when Pettigrew is holding your face mask. Watch the damn game! https://t.co/s0a3v9AlG1 — Randy Galloway (@Randy_Galloway) January 5, 2015

Unless I took this AFTER the ball deflected off Pettigrew, that's a penalty. (Spoiler alert: I didn't.) pic.twitter.com/VoVXjFNMl1 — Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) January 5, 2015

Even if no interference, Hitchens grabbed Pettigrew's jersey all the way. Should've been defensive holding. pic.twitter.com/AfkDgAGlgj — Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 5, 2015

Rewatched the non PI from DETvsDAL. One angle shows Pettigrew pushing off Hitchens facemask bef contact. Actually OPI pic.twitter.com/oiCN3CTq1W — Elliot Harrison (@HarrisonNFL) January 5, 2015

@SuperCaddie @EricMoondog @J_James81 https://t.co/9crjEgEcfn should have been illegal hands to face on Pettigrew. — Derek (@DerekMaberry) January 5, 2015 

Yes, Thats Pettigrew PULLING Hitchens ONTOP of him PRAYING for a Flag after grabn his mask https://t.co/dXIu54pyo3 pic.twitter.com/m8kJWhRTte" — AMERICA'S TEAM (@COWBOYS_NEFL) January 5, 2015

I am SHOCKED that flag was picked up. I must admit, that was pass interference on Hitchens. — Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 5, 2015

What do you think? Should the call have been a penalty? Either way, as Grantland's Bill Simmons points out, we'll remember the 2015 Lion-Cowboys game as "The Picked Up Flag game."

The Picked Up Flag game. — Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 5, 2015