Lions-Packers ref throws flag flat on his back

This happened in the 3rd quarter in Detroit, and within minutes it was the clip of the Sunday window.

Barstool Sports

@barstoolsports

The Lions-Packers ref got hit in the nuts and gave us the best flag throw of the year

Here's what we know. Bleacher Report says it came out of a tangle between St. Brown and Green Bay's Wyatt. The official took a kick to the midsection on what was ruled a late and unnecessary tackle, and he didn't wait to get up before making the call. He just threw the flag from the ground. You can call a penalty standing up, or you can call it after getting kicked in the gut, and only one of those is an all-time flag throw. The Barstool accounts reacted exactly how you'd expect: one post called it the best flag throw of the year, and another said the guy might have a future in the WWE.

The real joke is that this crew was already the story before kickoff. Week 7 previews pointed out that the Lions had drawn one of the most flag-happy officiating crews in the league, with Alex Moore listed as the referee for Packers at Lions. The betting shows were breaking down the zebras like they were a 3rd team, too.

Warren Sharp

@UC5Me5Jw0nSj1qF6ZfibrFMw

“Refs have been a hot topic around the league. Certainly a problem for the NFL so far.”

0:46

Pardon My Take ran it back from a second angle with a little lore attached. Watch the official go down and stay down with players standing over him. The 'Last Stand' caption is the bit. The official surrendered nothing.

Memes

@PardonMyMeme

t.co/99RLIXgXE5

Not everybody laughed. A flag in a 4-point game in a division matchup at Ford Field is a big deal for a fan base, and plenty of Packers fans were in no mood for a referee becoming a meme. Brandon Walker stepped in to make the obvious point.

Brandon Walker

@BFW

Ok emotional packers fans don’t like this. Guys he threw it from the flat of his back. Thats funny.

BFW is right, and he can be right while the Packers fans are mad. You can hate the call and still admit that a guy taking a cleat to the stomach and still getting the flag out from the flat of his back is the funniest thing on a football field this week. NFL officials get torn apart every Sunday. For once one of them got some style points, and Green Bay fans can argue over whether the hit was late while everyone else keeps the clip on loop.