Officials rule Packers called timeout before a penalty on 4th down, Green Bay takes advantage for TD

It was Thanksgiving, not Christmas, but the Green Bay Packers got a nice gift from officials.

On a crucial fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter, with the Detroit Lions trailing 10-7, the Packers looked like they committed a false start penalty. But after a conference, officials ruled that Packers coach Matt LaFleur had called timeout before the infraction.

The replay showed that LaFleur wasn't even close to signaling the timeout before the penalty happened. It is possible that LaFleur verbally called for a timeout to the official on the sideline near him, but that's a little hard to believe given how loud Ford Field was for a huge fourth-down play.

It was a massive benefit to the Packers. They still had fourth-and-1 instead of fourth-and-6 and still went for it instead of kicking the field goal. Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs for a touchdown for a 17-7 lead. Had the penalty been assessed, Green Bay likely would have kicked a field goal. That was a difference in four points.

The Lions weren't pleased that the Packers were given the timeout. Looking at the replay, they had a good argument.