"It was bulls**t": Keisean Nixon blasts referee's calls leading to Packers loss vs Lions
Green Bay Packers cornerback and return specialist Keisean Nixon criticized the officiating which potentially impacted Thursday Night Football clash against the Detroit Lions. The Packers suffered a 34-31 loss that could significantly impact their NFC North division standing.
Two specific plays fueled Nixon's frustration. First, a crucial third-and-goal illegal contact penalty in the first quarter gave the Lions a new set of downs. David Montgomery capitalized, scoring the game's opening touchdown. The second contentious moment came on a pivotal 17-yard reception by Amon-Ra St. Brown during the Lions' game-winning drive.
"It was bulls**t. I should be able to stand my ground," Nixon said via The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "Late in the game on the dig with St. Brown, I stood my ground, he pushed off and they didn't call it, so it's ticky-tacky, but they're at home, so we expect that."
Keisean Nixon's defensive complaints overshadow the intense battle
The officiating became a central narrative in a game that was otherwise a masterclass of strategic football. Lions coach Dan Campbell's aggressive play-calling stood in stark contrast to Keisean Nixon's defensive complaints.
Campbell's bold fourth-down decision with 43 seconds left proved decisive. Despite Jared Goff falling during the snap, he handed the ball to David Montgomery for a critical 7-yard gain. This gutsy call prevented Jordan Love and the Packers from mounting a final response.
The game's statistics tell a compelling story. The Lions dominated early, leading 10-0 just minutes into the second quarter. Love struggled, managing only 31 passing yards in the first half. Za'Darius Smith's early sack set a tone of defensive pressure that would define the game's first half.
The Packers fought back dramatically in the third quarter, outscoring the Lions 14-7. Josh Jacobs emerged as a key player, scoring three touchdowns and briefly giving Green Bay a lead. However, Detroit's resilience ultimately prevailed.
With the win, the Lions clinched a playoff berth and extended their franchise-record winning streak to 11 games. They improved to an impressive 12-1 record, while the Packers dropped to 9-4.
Coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged the game's intensity, saying:
"It was tough and it went back and forth. There were just a couple plays that didn't go our way."
The loss leaves the Packers still in the wild card hunt, with their Week 15 matchup against the Seahawks looming large.