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Jim Schwartz put the red flag away at the end of the first half when officials told him he couldn't challenge a "forward fumble" after the blocked kick.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

DETROIT -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz had the red challenge flag out, but the officials convinced him to put it away.

After David Akers' field goal was blocked late in the first half of Detroit's 27-24 loss to Cincinnati, Bengals safety Reggie Nelson picked up the loose ball. As Detroit's Dylan Gandy wrapped him up, Nelson appeared to attempt a two-handed chest pass to teammate Carlos Dunlap.

Dunlap scooped the loose ball over to Dre Kirkpatrick, who continued down the sideline, picking up 15 extra yards.

Nelson's action appeared to be an illegal forward pass, but Jim Schwartz was told by the officials he couldn't challenge that aspect of the play.

"I thought it was a forward lateral, but the officials told me that didn't matter on a blocked kick, so I decided not to challenge it," Schwartz said after the game.

The NFL's former vice president of officiating disagrees.

Watching the game on television, FOX analyst Mike Pereira said the play should have been challenged.

Pereira tweeted,"DET looks like forward lateral after a change which could've been challenged. CIN would keep ball after 5 yd penalty from the spot of pass."

Instead of potentially losing 20 yards in field position, the Bengals started their drive at Detroit's 40-yard line with 2:17 remaining in the second quarter.

Seven plays later, Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton found Marvin Jones for a 12-yard score to give the Bengals a 14-10 lead going into the half.

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