Did Lions Get Too Tricky? 'I Couldn't Believe It!' Jerry Jones on 'Convoluted' Cowboys Win

Did Detroit Lions Get Too Tricky? 'I Couldn't Believe It!' Jerry Jones on 'Convoluted' Dallas Cowboys Win

Detroit Lions receivers were reported to be ineligible. Their lack of eligibility kept the Dallas Cowboys', namely that for the NFC East division title, alive. 

The football world is still abuzz about the controversial ending to Saturday's crucial NFC tilt between the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.  Count Cowboys owner Jerry Jones as among the many in North Texas simultaneously perplexed and euphoric over the win. 

USA TODAY SPORTS

Combined with the Philadelphia Eagles' Sunday loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals, the win allowed Dallas (11-5) to control its own destiny for the NFC East title going into the last week of the regular season. 

"I just couldn't believe it when Philadelphia ended up losing that ballgame this weekend and gave us this opportunity," Jones said during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan. "I can't believe the convoluted way that we ended up winning that game."

Detroit's attempt to fool the Dallas defense with a tackle-eligible play on a go-ahead two-point conversion in the final minute led to apparent confusion with the officiating staff led by Brad Allen. As a result, the successful double earned on Jared Goff's throw to Taylor Decker was ruled an illegal touch for the latter, who was not viewed as an eligible receiver by Allen and his crew.

Lions fans have cried foul over the foul, claiming it cost them a chance at an extra home playoff game come the NFC Divisional round. Detroit is already set to host a Wild Card matchup as winners of the NFC North, its first since 1993. 

Don't count Jones among the sympathetic: not only did he believe that several other questionable calls lingered over the final stages but he also blamed the Lions for taking their efforts to fool the Cowboys' defense too far.

'Fuzzy' Jerry Giddy With Cowboys on Brink of Improbable NFC East Title

"Just one play doesn't do it. There were a lot of plays in that final sequence that were questionable," Jones said. "But let me put it like this; first and foremost, the defensive team is supposed to know ... who the (eligible receivers) are ... Anything you do to fuzzy that up, can get fuzzied up and that's what happened."

The NFL appears to agree with Jones: per a report from Mike Florio of NBC Sports, the league has no plans to alter its rules for eligible receiver reporting.

Controversial Cowboys vs. Lions Rule Change? NFL Reveals ‘Eligible Receiver’ Plan

Jones' Cowboys will get a chance to lock up the NFC East crown on Sunday late afternoon when they face the Washington Commanders (3:25 p.m. CT, Fox).