Cris Collinsworth, NFL Analysts Condemn Refs’ ‘Terrible’ Game-Defining Decision During Eagles vs. Lions
The refs stole the show on primetime after a controversial defensive pass interference call ended the game for the Detroit Lions as the Philadelphia Eagles soared to their eighth win of the season. In a game between two Super Bowl hopefuls, fans were not pleased to see the game end with a ref show. Cris Collinsworth and NFL analysts made their displeasure with the call known.
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Cris Collinsworth and NFL Analysts React to the Refs
Collinsworth was on the call for the coverage and expressed his disagreement with the massive game-defining call. On the biggest play of the game, Jalen Hurts targeted A.J. Brown on third down, where a first down would win it for Philadelphia. The pass fell incomplete, but Lions CB Rock Ya-Sin was called for defensive pass interference despite minimal contact.
“Oh, come on! Come on! That is terrible! That is an absolutely terrible call that’s going to decide this football game! If anything, it’s an offensive push!” said Collinsworth.
Cris Collinsworth: “Oh, come on! Come on! That is terrible! That is an absolutely terrible call that’s going to decide this football game! If anything, it’s an offensive push!”
Another brutal NFL pass interference call strikes. 🏈🦓🎙️ #NFL #SNF https://t.co/XYnF7DejvM pic.twitter.com/TRkNZ7kGJG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 17, 2025
It was a tough call to make to end the game. With all eyes on primetime, the refs weren’t going to get away with this one.
“Garbage Call!!! Just can’t call it,” wrote Kurt Warner on X. ‘So tired of offenses getting extra sticks due to every ticky-tack call!! Just can’t have these calls deciding so many games!”
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“An anticlimactic end to a day of fantastic finishes,” said NFL insider Mike Garafolo. “Can only guess the arm grab at the end is what the official deemed PI but hate to see that called at any point in the game, particularly there.”
This is an awful DPI to end the game.
You can’t let this happen. Ridiculous. Could argue that’s OPI on AJ Brown. pic.twitter.com/4u6ZlQrE22
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 17, 2025
“What a terrible way to end the game,” wrote NFL insider Albert Breer.
“Referees just robbed us of a dramatic finish to this game,” wrote former NFL player Will Compton.
They just ended the game on that. Disgraceful.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) November 17, 2025
“That’s not P.I. That’s a play on. That’s a bulljive call,” said Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
Another former player, Robert Griffin III, chimed in, “Every year, the fans justifiably complain about the consistency of the refs, and every year it gets worse.”
Every year the fans justifiable complain about the consistency of the refs and every year it gets worse.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 17, 2025
With the win against the Lions, the Eagles are now 8-2 on the season. They are primed to win the NFC East and will likely be a top candidate to secure the first seed in the NFC.
According to the PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Eagles have a 47.3% chance of securing the coveted No. 1 seed. The NFC East is essentially locked up, and it’s safe to expect that the road to the NFC playoffs could go through Philadelphia.
The Eagles keep on winning. They aren’t the prettiest of victories, but a win is a win. The offense continues to be a cause for concern, as 16 points is not very encouraging for an offense looking to find its rhythm. But they did enough to win, and at the end of the day, winning is all that matters.
