What’s a Thanksgiving clash without a side of controversy?
Looking to extend a 3-0 lead over Detroit early in the second quarter Thursday, Packers quarterback Jordan Love tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-2 to wideout Dontayvion Wicks, who narrowly tapped it into the end zone — a play that stunned commentators Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt.
“Oh, he is not going to be in, I don’t think,” Burkhardt said before the Packers officially went up 10-0.
The drama at the center of the catch stemmed from whether or not Wicks’ second foot was in with control of the ball.
After the score, Fox Sports rules analyst Dean Blandino elaborated on the call.
“The key is when does Wicks get control of the ball? And to me, if he has control, that first foot is the right foot, then the left foot is the second foot, so that’s what they’re ruling there for a touchdown,” Blandino said.
When Brady asked, “Even if the ball switches hands,” Blandino replied, “Is he switching it within his control or does it physically come loose? It can move, but he had control.”
The Packers got a second break from the refs in the second quarter when they granted head coach Mike LaFleur a timeout before an offensive lineman committed a false start on a fourth-and-1 play from the Lions’ 2-yard line.
Replays showed that LaFleur had not signaled for the timeout until after the flag was thrown, however, Fox’s Tom Rinaldi reported that LaFleur had been yelling for one as well.
The decision allowed the Packers to go for it — instead of kicking a field goal — and Love hit Romeo Doubs for a touchdown to give the Packers a 17-7 lead.
The Packers led 17-14 at halftime.
