Turning Point Is Replay Reversal

Detroit Lion running back Greg Hill made the Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense seem human. The officials made Buccaneer Coach Tony Dungy see red.

Hill rushed for 123 yards in 16 carries against the NFC’s No. 1-ranked defense as the Lions won, 20-3, Sunday night.

Sedrick Irvin had a touchdown on a two-yard run, Allen Aldridge scored on a 21-yard fumble return and Jason Hanson kicked field goals of 47 and 50 yards for the Lions (5-2), who have won all three games against NFC Central foes.

But the game turned on a series of events late in the third quarter during which Lion Coach Bobby Ross challenged an apparent 12-yard touchdown pass from Eric Zeier to Warrick Dunn. The touchdown would have cut Detroit’s lead to 17-10.

The Buccaneers (3-4) took a delay penalty while lining up for the extra-point attempt and Ross made his challenge before they could line up again. Dungy argued that Ross had waited too long, but to no avail.

“You can’t challenge a play after a penalty,” an angry Dungy said.

Referee Larry Nemmers told a reporter that the Lions had until the ball was snapped on the next play to make their challenge.

“You have to give all the credit to [strength and conditioning coach] Bert Hill on that play,” Ross said. “He saw it up in the booth and called down and told us to challenge it.”

The replay showed Dunn was down short of the end zone, and two plays later, after a five-yard false-start penalty, Mike Alstott fumbled at the one and Chris Claiborne recovered for Detroit.

“It was a pivotal point in the game,” Zeier said. “Everyone thought we scored and the defense is on the sideline, ready to go in the game, one score down.”