NFL spokesperson clarifies league stance on clock error in Packers-Lions game

An NFL spokesperson issued a statement Friday addressing the play during “Thursday Night Football” in which the Green Bay Packers (2-2) were allowed to snap the ball against the Detroit Lions (3-1) with the game clock showing triple zeroes.

As the Packers were attempting to mount a second half comeback, quarterback Jordan Love connected with rookie wideout Jayden Reed on a 44-yard pass to put Green Bay in the red zone. Officials on the field allowed the play to commence even as the game clock had run out, which should’ve signaled the end of the third quarter.

According to NFL spokesman Michael Signora, the situation is exactly the same as the expiration of the play clock. Officials need to see the clock has struck zero, and then blow the whistle, Signora told Pro Football Talk.

“This is the same process as exists with the play clock,” Signora said. “The official sees the game clock and then looks to the snap. There is always a brief delay, and this is not reviewable.”

Terry McAulay, former NFL referee and current Amazon Prime Video rules analyst, said on Thursday’s telecast the situation is different than the play clock expiring, and that the play should’ve been shut down. Instead, the play went on and Green Bay took advantage. Two plays later, Love ran it in for six to cut Detroit’s lead to 27-17.

Packers comeback falls short, Lions take control of NFC North

Green Bay’s comeback attempt ultimately fell short, and Detroit notched a 34-20 victory to take control of the NFC North. After the Packers got outgained 194-1 in yards in the first quarter and 284-23 in the first half, head coach Matt LaFleur admitted his team got “manhandled” in all phases.

“Give Detroit a lot of credit. They came in and whooped us pretty good,” LaFleur said, via NFL.com. “I was pleased with our team’s effort in the second half. I challenged them at halftime to just continue to go out and compete and I felt we did that. We had an opportunity; we were down 10 and we had a bad penalty to make it a three-possession game.

“But, every area, there’s a lot of improvement out there for us. I think any time you go out there and you can’t effectively run the football and conversely can’t stop the run, that’s a recipe for losing football… That’s what happened tonight. Give Detroit credit. We knew they were a tough opponent, but they manhandled us really in every phase.”