Pete Morelli explains pass interference flag being picked up

The largest controversy of the 2015 NFL playoffs was likely born on Sunday when a pass interference flag that was thrown on the Dallas Cowboys was picked up. And the explanation won’t make Detroit Lions fans feel any better about it.

According to crew chief Pete Morelli, the back judge threw a flag for defensive pass interference but was overruled by another official.

“The back judge threw his flag for defensive pass interference,” Morelli said after the game, via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. “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.”

Face guarding is not a penalty in the NFL. Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was definitely doing that, but it also looked like he shoved Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in the shoulder before the ball arrived. Hitchens also made no effort to play the ball. Head linesman Jerry Bergman didn’t see it that way.

Perhaps the most bizarre part of the reversed call was that Morelli actually made the announcement that Hitchens had been flagged for pass interference before the call was reversed. Officials typically get together before any announcement is made if they are picking up a flag.

“The information came and then the officials got together a little bit later after it was given to me, the first information,” Morelli said. “It probably would’ve been smoother if we got together.”

We thought the call never should have been reversed. Not only that, but Dez Bryant ran onto the field without a helmet to protest the call. He should have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. You can view the play for yourself here.

Lions fans have every right to feel like their team got screwed. Morelli’s explanation doesn’t really help.