Leave it to George R.R. Martin, author of the insane and insanely famous "Game of Thrones" book series - known for its intense scenes of death and destruction and the almost continuous killing off of character after character - to find a way to work violence and gore into his response to the officiating mess that marred the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions Wild Card playoff game last night.
Martin, on his blog, said that, while he isn't a Lions fan, if he were, he'd be ready to ride into action against the officials after last night's debacle.
"If I was a Detroit Lions fan, I'd be screaming for referee blood about that," Martin wrote.
"Picking up that flag on a FLAGRANT pass interference by Dallas in the fourth quarter was the worse call... or non-call... the NFL has seen since... well... since the non-call on the botched field goal attempt in the Giants/ 49ers playoff game ages ago.
"Shocking. Really shocking."
The call Martin is referring to happened about halfway through the fourth quarter with the Lions holding a tenuous grasp on the lead. Facing an important third down, quarterback Matthew Stafford attempted a pass to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who was facing man coverage against Cowboys linebacker, Anthony Hitchens.
Hitchens never turned to find the ball and made contact with Pettigrew before it arrived, a clear indication of pass interference. Only the referees, after a lengthy discussion, suddenly decided to pick up the flag. The Lions punted and the rest, as they say, is history.
As Martin notes, the Lions still very much could have won the game and had ample opportunities to reassert themselves afterward, but the call - or missed call, depending on your allegiances - will continue to stand out as an important turning point in the game.
"The Lions could still have won the game. They did lots to blow it afterward, from penalties of their own (none as flagrant, none picked up) to blown coverages to a shanked punt and a fumble. But still... Detroit could well have locked up the victory on that drive, the play was textbook pass interference, the penalty needed to stand. The defender mugged the tight end.
"One for the books."
Well put, George. Well put.
