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WATCH: Dallas Cowboys called for controversial blindside block on punt return

by: Austin Brezina11/13/22AustinBrezina59

The Dallas Cowboys received a second special teams penalty of the game while receiving a punt, for a blindside block that drew controversy. With just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter and Dallas holding onto a seven-point lead over the Packers, Kelvin Joseph was flagged for an illegal blindside block — despite making contact with the player’s chest.

Dallas began their drive from the 14-yard line instead of the 28-yard line as a result, leaving coach Mike McCarthy irate with the officials.

Dallas Cowboys called for controversial blindside block

The play drew eyes on social media because after the commercial break, the broadcast showed the play that resulted in the penalty — with Joseph appearing to push his blocking assignment from the front and side of this body. Although the play wasn’t the most consequential call of the game, it came at a pivotal point for both Green Bay and Dallas and McCarthy continued to work the officials on the sideline for the remainder of the drive.

Ultimately, a huge catch by CeeDee Lamb made the penalty completely obsolete — finishing the drive with a 35-yard touchdown catch.

The play wasn’t the only one that had Dallas fans calling for the refs to get it together, as the Cowboys fell in overtime after their drive ended with a controversial no-call on pass interference. Dallas began overtime with the ball and proceeded to move down the field, until a holding call cancelled out a huge run to push them into field goal range.

After a pass was completed by Dak Prescott to Dalton Schultz to set up a third-and-three play on the edge of field goal range. Prescott threw a pass to CeeDee Lamb with Jaire Alexander defending over the top, leading to a moment that many Dallas fans — and Lamb — wanted a flag called on.

The replay angle shared on social media appears to show Alexander reaching around the front of Lamb’s body before the ball arrived, with Lamb immediately calling for a flag after the play. Dallas proceeded to try on fourth-and-three again instead of kicking a field goal of over 50 yards, turning the ball over on downs.