The Packers beat the Lions 23-22 on Monday Night Football, holding Detroit (2-2-1) at the bottom of the NFC North and affirming Green Bay (5-1) as the top team.
Two late hands-to-the-face penalties on Lions defensive end Trey Flowers helped Aaron Rodgers and his team orchestrate a game-winning drive. The officiating throughout the game prompted outrage from fans of the NFL — both pro-Detroit viewers and self-proclaimed advocates of other teams.
Even Hall of Famer Barry Sanders weighed in on the chaos, criticizing the referee’s decision on the flags thrown on Flowers for the way it impacted the former running back’s team and calling for the NFL to investigate the situation.
“That is sickening… the @NFL needs to look at a way to prevent that from happening,” Sanders said. “Two phantom hands to the face calls really hurt us tonight. Yes, we could have scored TDs, but @Lions played too well to have the game end this way. #DETvsGB @espn”
The Lions host the Vikings (4-2) Sunday and the Packers host the Raiders (3-2).
