Dan Campbell actively trolling Cowboys adds more embarrassment to Week 6 beatdown
By Jerry Trotta
So, about the Dallas Cowboys having a chance to beat the Detroit Lions. The game got away from Dallas in the first quarter after Dak Prescott threw a red-zone interception with the team already trailing 7-3. That's how delicate every possession was for the Cowboys' offense.
In a game that has commanded touchdowns to keep pace with the Lions' high-octane offense, which has run circles around Mike Zimmer's injury-depleted defense, field goals and turnovers were a recipe for disaster.
"Disaster" is as good of a word as any to describe the Cowboys' performance. They trailed 27-6 at halftime and allowed Detroit to score on the first possesion of the third quarter.
It is obvious that the Lions are out to send a message after they lost to Dallas in controversial fashion last season. Head coach Dan Campbell remembers that loss all too well and he made an excellent call-back to that game while his Lions were putting a beatdown on the Cowboys.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell actively trolled Cowboys amid Week 6 beatdown
On the very first offensive play for the Lions, they reported offensive lineman Dan Skipper as an eligible receiver. On Detroit's final possession of the first half, Campbell had both Skipper and tackle Taylor Decker report as eligible. The play culminated with a David Montgomery touchdown run - his second of the first half.
In last season's matchup, the Lions scored a potential game-tying touchdown with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. Ever the aggressor, Campbell opted to go for two and the win but he added a little spice to the play with Decker caching the pass in the end zone.
However, the refs threw a flag claiming that Skipper was the only offensive lineman who reported as eligible. Replay quickly showed, though, that Skipper, Decker and even left tackle Penei Sewell all signaled before the play that they were eligible.
In a league that is plagued by grotesque refereeing, that was one of the worst calls in recent NFL history. It was so bad that it was a toss-up if Brad Allen's would get to ref in the playoffs.
As much as we hate to give Campbell credit, this was an excellent troll job. It's one thing to make a statement with the first play of the game, but Campbell rubbed salt in the Cowboys' wound by having Skipper and Decker report as eligible while already leading by three scores.
As is this performance couldn't get any more embarrassing.