Lions, Dan Campbell Blast Officiating After Controversial Calls in Packers Loss
Detroit’s 27-13 defeat to Green Bay in Week 1 was already a bitter pill to swallow. But what happened between the whistles may sting even more, as head coach Dan Campbell publicly accused officials of favoring the Packers and demanded the NFL review the game’s officiating.
Three moments in particular fueled the outrage.
1. The Brian Branch Pick-Six Wiped Away
Early in the third quarter, cornerback Brian Branch appeared to turn the tide with a 35-yard interception return touchdown that would have cut the deficit to 17-13. Instead, the play was erased by a defensive holding penalty on Rock Ya-Sin, flagged for grabbing Jayden Reed well away from the ball. The five-yard call gifted Green Bay a first down, and the Packers turned the drive into a field goal for a 20-6 lead. Fans immediately erupted online, calling it a “ticky-tack” penalty that “changed the whole game.”
2. No Flag on Jaire Alexander vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Down 20-6 in the fourth quarter, Jared Goff launched a deep shot to Amon-Ra St. Brown near the red zone. Replay showed Jaire Alexander tugging St. Brown’s arm, but no defensive pass interference flag came. Detroit settled for a field goal instead of a potential first-and-goal, narrowing only to 20-9. Supporters were incensed, pointing to past DPI controversies in Lions-Packers games. Analysts labeled it a “questionable no-call,” one that robbed Detroit of a needed touchdown opportunity.
3. Micah Parsons’ Sack Without a Facemask Call
Just before halftime, with the Lions trailing 10-3, newly-acquired Packer Micah Parsons sacked Jared Goff, forcing a fumble that Detroit recovered. Lions fans argued Parsons yanked Goff’s facemask, but no flag was thrown. One play later, Goff threw an interception to Evan Williams, killing a promising drive. While not as decisive as the earlier calls, the sequence added fuel to suspicions of bias toward Green Bay’s new defensive star.
After the game, Campbell didn’t hold back. He said the “integrity of the game” demanded accountability and insisted the NFL office take a closer look at how the calls — and non-calls — shaped the outcome.
For fans in Detroit, the controversy echoes a long history of painful moments against Green Bay, reviving memories of infamous officiating debates in years past. This time, Campbell is making sure the league hears it directly from him.
Bears Icon Brian Urlacher Returns as Co-Owner to Lead From the Front Right Before the New Season Kicks Off
Chicago, IL – The heartbeat of the Monsters of the Midway is back. Brian Urlacher, the Hall of Fame linebacker who defined toughness and leadership for a generation, has officially returned to the Chicago Bears—this time as a co-owner. The move carries weight not just in Chicago, but across the entire NFL, as one of the league’s proudest franchises reconnects with one of its most iconic leaders.
At the announcement, Urlacher spoke with deep emotion: "Chicago gave me an identity, a city of toughness and tradition, and fans who never stopped believing. This is where I became a Bear, where I built unbreakable bonds. I’m here to protect that legacy and help guide the Bears forward."
Urlacher was the face of the Bears’ defense for more than a decade, playing 13 seasons in Chicago after being drafted ninth overall in 2000. With 8 Pro Bowls, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and a Hall of Fame bust in Canton, he remains one of the most respected linebackers of all time.
For the Bears’ faithful, his return means more than nostalgia. Urlacher’s leadership has always symbolized toughness, accountability, and tradition—the very values Chicago has built its football identity on since the days of George Halas and Mike Ditka.
Fans across social media erupted in celebration, calling it “the Bears’ statement of intent” right before the new season kicks off. Many believe Urlacher’s presence will restore the pride and edge that once made Soldier Field one of the most feared venues in football.
This isn’t just about reliving the past—it’s about building the future. With Brian Urlacher back in the fold as co-owner, the message is clear: the Chicago Bears are ready to protect their legacy and fight their way back to the top of the NFL.
Packers’ Colby Wooden Fires Back at Critics After Dominant Run Defense Performance
Micah Parsons, a contrarian opinion had taken hold, too–the Packers defense would get chewed up in the running game.Three days before the Packers were to play the Detroit Lions in their 2025 opener, defensive lineman Colby Wooden got a phone call. It was his father. While much attention had been foisted on the Packers in recent days after the stunning trade for pass-rusher
The Packers had to trade away stalwart defensive lineman Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons, and the feeling was, that would be costly in the team’s efforts to handle the run. Detroit, after all, rushed for 2,488 yards last season, sixth in the NFL. Without Clark, surely the Packers would be in trouble.
Wooden, who is helping replace Clark in the middle, took the call from his dad, who said, “Do me a favor, shut ‘em up.”
And he, along with the entire Packers defensive front, did just that, holding the Lions to 46 yards on 22 carries, their lowest rushing output since Week 6 in 2023. Wooden, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks held the line admirably in the middle all day for the Packers.
Colby Wooden: ‘I Took That Personal’
Wooden, for one, was insulted by the questions about the team’s inability to hold against the run.
“I for sure took that personal …” Wooden said. “So I just, did my job, went out there, stopped the run. I took it personal. Honestly, I felt like it was kinda disrespectful, like, ‘Oh, they gonna run the ball.’ So I made it my mission—we, excuse me—we made it our mission to shut them down.”
That’s not easy to do against the combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles.
“We know what they want to do,” Wooden said. “Last year, they wanted to run. They call them Sonic and Knuckles, or whatever. They want to run them 30 times. So we know they want to run that ball. We’ve got to do our job to stop the run so they can get back and let (Parsons) go get them.”
Packers Filling Roles With Micah Parsons on Board
Wooden said the effect of having Parsons on the field was obvious, and it works both ways. When offenses focus on corralling Parsons, the other Packers must step up.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, everybody got a role,” Wooden said. “Everybody’s got to buy into their role. We know what attention and what he comes with. And we know we got to stop that run, go help him out, if he is getting is getting chipped, doubled or whatever, now it’s somebody else’s turn to win their one-on-one.”
Packers Have Commanders Next
And despite the obviously encouraging results, Wooden is not getting ahead of himself. The Commanders will be next on the docket, with fearsome young quarterback Jayden Daniels on hand.
“It’s just one week,” Wooden said. “It’s Week 1. It’s great to start off with a win, dominate. But we’ve got to keep it going. We got a good team coming here on Thursday, we know we got to be ready to stop that run and contain that quarterback. So we just gotta keep going, keep getting better, keep jelling.”
