NFL Denies Lions’ Request for Penalty Review After Controversial Moment in 24–31 Loss to Packers
November 29, 2025 | Detroit, Michigan
The fallout from the Detroit Lions’ heartbreaking 24–31 loss to the Green Bay Packers continues — but the team’s formal protest to the league has officially hit a dead end. The NFL responded to the Lions' request for disciplinary action following a controversial no-call during a pivotal fourth-down sequence, and their answer was clear: no further action will be taken.
The situation in question occurred late in the second quarter, with the Packers facing a 4th-and-goal. A Packers offensive lineman clearly moved early — an obvious false start that should have pushed Green Bay back and likely forced a field goal attempt. Instead, referees ruled that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur had called a timeout just before the snap, nullifying the penalty. Replay footage, however, appeared to show LaFleur calling timeout too late. Green Bay kept the down, ran the play, and scored a crucial touchdown — shifting momentum at a critical point in the game.
THESE REFS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 27, 2025
MATT LAFLEUR CLEARLY CALLS THE TIMEOUT AFTER THE PENALTY.
BECAUSE OF THIS FAKE TIMEOUT GREEN BAY SCORED A TOUCHDOWN.
The refs just had a four-point swing on another controversial call in this game.
Insanity.
pic.twitter.com/wzWGXum3PR
The Lions front office, led by team president Rod Wood and general manager Brad Holmes, submitted a formal complaint to the NFL. The document included game footage, timestamped sequences, and a request for a public acknowledgment of officiating error, as well as internal discipline. “This is not about sour grapes,” Wood said in a brief statement. “This is about protecting the integrity of the game. That call changed the trajectory of a tight contest.”
But the league sees it differently. In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the NFL confirmed they had reviewed all available audio and visual material from the game, including sideline communications and official transcripts. “While the sequence in question was not executed perfectly by the officiating crew,” the statement read, “we do not believe it altered the outcome of the game. The Packers executed multiple key plays on both sides of the ball that ultimately determined the result.”
That reasoning, however, did little to calm frustrated Lions fans. Online forums and talk radio shows have lit up with criticism, with some accusing the league of protecting marquee franchises. Still, others have acknowledged that despite the officiating lapse, Detroit’s failure to convert on third down (3-of-11) and their costly fourth-quarter fumble contributed just as much to the loss.
For now, the NFL considers the matter closed. The Lions, sitting at 7–5, will have to regroup and look ahead to their Week 14 matchup. But the sense of injustice — fair or not — may linger far longer than the scoreboard.
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