Lions bring in controversial official against Packers – Sports Illustrated

Lions fans, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But referee Cleet Blakeman’s officiating team will schedule the Lions’ NFC North matchup with the Green Bay Packers this Sunday. Yes, the same Clayt Blakeman whose team infamously called multiple controversial penalties against the Lions in a 2019 game against the Packers.

This contest, a Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field, took place on October 14, 2019. Detroit led the game 22-13 with 12:17 left in the fourth quarter after former Lions player Matt Prater scored a 54 yard.

On the ensuing drive, the Lions managed to force a fourth-and-21 and an apparent punt situation after sacking then-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, in that game, referee Jeff Rice, a former member of Blakeman’s officiating crew, called an illegal penalty on outside linebacker Trey Flowers that should never have been called. Flowers held Green Bay offensive lineman David Bakhtiari’s shoulder during the play, but never came close to grabbing his neck or mask (which is required for the penalty to be called).

Flowers’ penalty gave the Packers a first down, and Green Bay went on to finish with a 35-yard strike from Rodgers to one of his favorite targets, Allen Lazard. That cut the Packers’ deficit to just two, 22-20.

Then, on the Lions’ next possession, the officials missed an apparent pass interference penalty that would have put Detroit in scoring position.

The Lions failed to score again and Mason Crosby went on to kick the game-winning 23-yard field goal for the Packers as time expired. In that game-winning drive, Flowers was again flagged for an illegal direct play penalty that should never have been called. The NFL admitted error the next day for the second of two erroneous calls made against the former Lions quarterback.

It’s been five long years since that loss and a lot has changed for both teams. For starters, Matt Patricia, the Lions’ head coach for that game, has since been replaced by Dan Campbell. Meanwhile, the game’s starting quarterbacks, Rodgers for the Packers and Matthew Stafford for the Lions, were replaced by Jordan Love and Jared Goff, respectively.

Even with all the time that has passed, the loss still stings Lions fans, and the mere mention of Blakeman’s name still brings back bad memories. It doesn’t help that Blakeman’s crew also oversaw Detroit’s NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers last season.

Here’s to hoping the Lions’ Week 9 matchup with the Packers Sunday doesn’t end with nearly as much referee-induced controversy.