In a game decided by inches and seconds, one controversial flag can change everything. For the Dallas Cowboys, that moment came with just four minutes left on the clock, sparking outrage from the broadcast booth to the bench.

Dak Prescott targeted tight end Jake Ferguson, who was battling linebacker Alex Anzalone for position. But as the ball arrived, a flag for offensive pass interference stunned the Cowboys, a call that TNF Rules Analyst Terry McAulay would immediately dispute.

“I just see him kind of swimming through. I don’t see offensive passing or forward. He swims through right there, which is perfectly legal, and then gets grabbed,” he said. “I don’t see offensive pass interference at all.”

That penalty cost the Cowboys one down as kicker Brandon Aubrey came out to kick the ball. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was unhappy with the decision, while Prescott also wanted the referees to reconsider. They first thought it was a first and goal with a 5-yard pass interference penalty, but were shocked by the OPI.

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Trailing 37-27, the Cowboys desperately needed a touchdown to stay in the fight, making the subsequent penalty and field goal feel like a deflating turn of events. Instead, they only put up three more points as Aubrey scored a 29-yard field goal.

Had they not suffered the OPI and scored a touchdown instead, they had a good chance of getting the ball back and either getting ahead or scoring the equalizer. It became even more controversial as the replay clearly showed that Anzalone was the one who held Ferguson by his jersey.

The poor decision by the referee somewhat cost them the game, and the running back Jahmyr Gibbs sealed the win for the Detroit Lions with his third touchdown of the game. But almost everyone agreed that they lost the game because of the poor officiating. While Jake Ferguson was disappointed with the decision, he got support from all corners of the league.

Hall of Famer supports Jake Ferguson

The NFL legend Shannon Sharpe was also watching the game. Even he was stunned by the referee’s decision and had a frustrating reaction against the referees, showing his support for the Cowboys’ tight end.

“Not sure I’ve ever seen that called, let alone in that situation. That’s some bulljive,” he tweeted.

Others like Pat McAfee and Breiden Fehoko also registered their complaints by tweeting against the referees. It’s clear! The Cowboys had a solid chance to swing the game, but the poor decision-making (officiating) cost them a victory. With the 44-30 loss, they have fallen back to a 6-6-1 record.

Three teams in the NFC wild-card playoff picture have eight or more wins. The Philadelphia Eagles already have eight wins in twelve games. So, the Cowboys need to win all four remaining games if they want to enter the playoffs. Otherwise, they need teams ahead of them in the standings to lose. The road ahead is tricky.