Lions vs. Saints

2nd quarter

5:33: Saints QB Drew Brees fumbles during a pass attempt. The ball is correctly ruled a fumble on the field, but one of the officials whistles the play dead while the ball is loose. Lions recover and are granted possession, but are not allowed to advance the ball. There were two officiating errors on this play: (1) The play was incorrectly whistled dead, preventing the Lions from advancing the ball after the fumble recovery; and (2) once the play was whistled dead, possession should have been granted to the Saints at the spot of the fumble (although the play should not have been whistled dead).

0:16: Saints WR Marques Colston catches an apparent touchdown. The video replay shows that he does not maintain possession all the way to the ground as required by rule, and the play is (correctly) reversed and ruled an incompletion by video review. On the same play, Lions S Amari Spievey is penalized for a personal foul for a slap to the helmet of Colston. Contact did not appear to be sufficient to warrant a flag (see rule 12, section 2, article 8g).

3rd quarter

9:20: Colston catches a pass and appears to be down by contact clearly short of the first-down marker. The spot of the ball results in a first down. The Lions do not challenge the spot.

1:08: Lions QB Matthew Stafford runs for an apparent touchdown on 3rd and goal. The play is ruled a touchdown on the field and confirmed by video review, although video evidence appeared inconclusive. Stafford’s left knee may have been down prior to the ball's striking the goal-line pylon.

4th quarter

9:53: Saints G Brian de la Puente clearly holds the jersey of Lions DE Corey Williams. No penalty is called, and the play results in a touchdown for Saints RB Darren Sproles.