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Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell was ruled out of bounds by the officials on a third quarter reception, and while impossibly to say with certainly, the call appears to have been incorrect.

(NFL)

On the Detroit Lions' first drive in the second half, quarterback Matthew Stafford hooked up with Joique Bell on a swing pass to the left side on a third-and-2 play from Detroit's 33-yard line.

Bell caught the pass in space and rumbled down the sideline 14 yards before he was hit by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cary Williams. The running back managed to stay on his feet through the hit, but the official on the sideline, with a great view of the play, ruled Bell had stepped out of bound.

Television replays didn't provide any conclusive evidence whether the call was right or wrong.

"It was really hard to officiate the sideline," coach Jim Schwartz said on Monday. "Joique Bell had a run on the sideline where he stepped one foot into that plowed area and it was whistled dead right away. He would have broken free."

Schwartz is right. Bell had nothing but green, err, white in front of him had the play not been blown dead.

The coaches film, particularly the view from the end zone cam, provides us with a clearer look at the play.

After stopping the film immediately after the hit and highlighting the sideline based on clear visual elements, it appears Bell's foot remained just inside the line.

Of course, we concede the official had a better, unobstructed view at field level. Plus, given the conditions, it's easy to understand why the call was made.

Did the call change the outcome of the game? Not really.

The Lions' drive stalled out in Eagles territory, but after the defense forced a three-and-out, Jeremy Ross returned the punt 58 yards to put Detroit up, 14-0.

Blown call or not, the Lions still failed to hold the two-score lead.

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