Penalties can be a real buzzkill in the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere of an NFL game, and no one felt this more than Detroit Lions' cornerback Carlton Davis III during the recent matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The heated clash saw the Lions flagged 12 times for a whopping 101 yards, with a significant chunk of those infractions directed at Davis. The cornerback ended up with three defensive pass interference flags plus a defensive-holding penalty. "I don’t want to get fined because they are sensitive about this," Davis said, perhaps only half-jokingly, "but honestly, bro – I can’t say what I want to say – but honestly I feel as if they were just on the Seahawks’ side today,” he told AL.com. Davis wasn’t holding back after what he perceived as overly aggressive officiating that favored the Seahawks in a game where Detroit eked out a 42-29 victory. The normally stoic defender was caught off guard by the frequency of the flags he received. Facing one of the league's top receivers, DK Metcalf, Davis was involved in a high-stakes dance that saw him making tackles and even breaking up three passes. Yet the intrusion of countless penalty flags marred his otherwise solid performance. "DK’s a physical receiver," said Davis. "When you get a physical corner and a physical receiver, you got to let us play ball. … Come on, let us play ball,” as cited on AL.com. It wasn’t just Davis feeling the sting of officiating. The overall sentiment was shared—Seattle fans and players included—as pointed out in an article on CBS News. Seattle's performance resulted in 516 total yards but came with nine penalties for 70 yards. Even a botched pass by Metcalf that was called back due to a penalty left the Seahawks scratching their heads. Despite reaping some benefits from the penalties Seattle’s way, the officiating spotlight wasn't something they cherished either. Davis expressed frustration with the calls, even suggesting he might "take them to dinner or something," as he pondered what he could do differently. Head Coach Dan Campbell admitted these penalties were too hefty a price to pay game after game, "We can't survive 12 penalties every game," he noted, also from CBS News. Yet, the coach stood by his player, praising Davis for his physical prowess against a challenging opponent. Coach Campbell emphasized the need for his team to continue fine-tuning. He maintains faith in the Lions' defense which has shone brightly in previous outings and remains hopeful moderate adjustments can dial back weathering penalties. As the Lions head into their bye week, bringing balance to their physical edge and playing their game without the constant yellow interruptions seems to be the task at hand. When the Lions return, they'll be gearing up to face the Dallas Cowboys, with fingers crossed that another penalty-filled game isn't on the horizon.
What other sites are saying about this topic
Lions' Carlton Davis to NFL officials: 'Come on, man, let us play ball' from AL.com
Detroit Lions CB Calls Out Officials vs. Seattle Seahawks from
Dan Campbell still believes in Lions defense despite recent poor performance from CBS News