Packers Morning Buzz: Officials' calls 'stole' victory from Lions

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with reaction in Detroit to the Packers' come-from-behind, 23-22 victory over the Lions. Columnist Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press says the referees "stole" a victory from the Lions.

Monarrez writes:

Let me start by saying bad calls are part of sports. I also think decrying poor officiating is usually a loser’s mentality. However, in this case, I think the refs decided the game and stole a victory from the Lions when they incorrectly called illegal use of hands to the face on Trey Flowers in the fourth quarter — twice. One call wiped out a drive-killing sack on third down and the other gave the Packers a first down after an incompletion on third down at the Lions’ 16 with 1:36 left. All because Packers tackle David Bakhtiari did a great sell job and the refs were too gullible to fall for it — twice. The refs essentially put 10 points on the board for the Packers. ESPN analyst Booger McFarland said if we can see the mistakes at home, the refs should see them on the field. And all of America was watching. Shame on the NFL.

You can read the entire piece here:

Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel says blame the refs all you want, but blame the Lions, too. Seidel writes:

The Lions had a chance to take over first place in the NFC North on Monday night.

They had an opportunity to make a major statement against the Green Bay Packers.

But they let it slip away.

Because they blew a lead and wasted scoring opportunities, getting into the red zone three times, but walking away with just one touchdown. So that’s on the Lions. ...

But the Lions didn’t blow this game by themselves. The refs made several questionable calls that cost them.  Trey Flowers was called for two penalties — illegal use of hands to the face mask — and both led to Green Bay scores.

But he appeared to grab the shoulder pads, not the face mask. In my opinion, the refs blew it. Flowers had been using that technique all game. It's the same technique he has always used.

The final call gave the Packers all they needed on their game-winning drive: A 23-yard field goal as time expired.

You can read the entire column here:

Suffice it to say that in Detroit, they're taking the loss a little tough:

It seemed that all of Twitter was in an uproar over the officiating:

Tom Silverstein weighs in on the controversy over the officiating:

Former Packers linebacker Clay Matthews shares some thoughts on the issue as well:

Pete Dougherty writes about how the Packers found a hero at the bottom of their wide receiver depth chart:

Ryan Wood and Olivia Reiner discuss the difference that Allen Lazard made:

On this night, it was Jamaal Williams' turn to play the hero:

The comeback engineered by the Packers' offense wouldn't have been possible without the resolve of the Packers' defense:

A year after a brutal day in Detroit, Mason Crosby got to savor a Lambeau Leap:

The Packers Insider focuses on the resilience Green Bay showed in overcoming all kinds of adversity:

Kyle Shanahan is thought of as an offensive guru, but it's San Francisco's defense that has powered the 49ers to a 5-0 start:

Former Packers and Lions guard T.J. Lang talks about why he walked away from football:

Contact Stu Courtney at (920) 431-8377 or scourtney@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stucourt