🚩🦁🚩

Holding on the Lions

The Top 20 Worst Holding Calls (and No-Calls) in Lions History. A countdown of pure suffering.

20graded, sourced entries
681holding flags on DET since 1999
3verified entries vs. Dallas. Of course.
0apologies that came with a W

🚩 Lions holding flags by season, 1999–2026

681 holding fouls called on Detroit since 1999. Bars show the total; the darker bottom part is defensive holding. Data starts in 1999 because that's where play-by-play records begin; we left earlier seasons blank instead of guessing. *2026 season still in progress.

OffensiveDefensive
Show the table
SeasonOff.Def.TotalPlayoffs
1999266323
2000188260
2001202220
2002211220
2003284320
2004165210
2005123150
2006184220
200773100
2008151160
2009132150
2010204240
2011203231
2012155200
2013195240
2014229312
2015236290
2016249330
2017258330
2018209290
20192510350
2020139220
2021184220
2022258330
2023208283
20241511260
20251413270
2026*6390

Source: nflverse play-by-play, counting plays where penalty_team = DET and penalty_type contains "Holding". Includes regular season and playoffs. Can differ a little from official totals (declined/offsetting flags, plays with more than one foul).

⚖️ How we graded them

Every entry is scored out of 40 points:

How we found candidates: we searched nflverse play-by-play (1999–2026) for accepted holding fouls on DET in Lions losses, ranked by win-probability swing, then added no-calls on opponents that the media documented. Player names come straight from the official play descriptions. Pre-1999 games aren't covered.

The Countdown

  1. 20
    CASE #20FLAGGED
    Oct 2, 2005 · @ TB · L 13-17

    Q4 05:28, 4th & 6 at TB 44

    What happened: pbp: "(5:28) 9-J.Bidwell punts 47 yards to DET 9, Center-83-D.Moore. 18-E.Drummond to DET 13 for 4 yards (46-B.Adams). PENALTY on DET, Offensive Holding, 6 yards, enforced at DET 13."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 17-13. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.8 pts.

    Stakes 5Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 817/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2005_04_DET_TB

  2. 19
    CASE #19FLAGGED
    Sep 15, 2024 · vs TB · L 16-20

    Q4 08:00, 2nd & 6 at TB 18

    What happened: pbp: "(8:00) (Shotgun) 26-J.Gibbs up the middle to TB 16 for 2 yards (0-Y.Diaby; 23-T.Smith). PENALTY on DET-77-F.Ragnow, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at TB 18 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 20-16. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.8 pts.

    Stakes 5Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 817/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2024_02_TB_DET

  3. 18
    CASE #18FLAGGED
    Oct 23, 2011 · vs ATL · L 16-23

    Q4 11:32, 4th & 2 at DET 39

    What happened: pbp: "(11:32) (Shotgun) 2-M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to 84-R.White. PENALTY on DET-26-L.Delmas, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at DET 39 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 23-16. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 6.5 pts.

    Stakes 5Swing 3Controversy 2Outcome 818/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2011_07_ATL_DET

  4. 17
    CASE #17FLAGGED
    Dec 24, 2017 · @ CIN · L 17-26

    Q4 07:06, 3rd & 12 at CIN 35

    What happened: pbp: "(7:06) (Shotgun) 14-A.Dalton pass incomplete short right. PENALTY on DET-28-Q.Diggs, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at CIN 35 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 26-17. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 9.3 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 4Controversy 2Outcome 518/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2017_16_DET_CIN

  5. 16
    CASE #16FLAGGED
    Nov 14, 2010 · @ BUF · L 12-14

    Q2 05:15, 1st & 10 at BUF 29

    What happened: pbp: "(5:15) (Shotgun) 14-Sh.Hill pass incomplete short right. Thrown away PENALTY on DET-76-J.Backus, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at BUF 29 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 14-12. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.4 pts.

    Stakes 5Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 1019/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2010_10_DET_BUF

  6. 15
    CASE #15FLAGGED
    Oct 13, 2002 · @ MIN · L 24-31

    Q4 14:05, 4th & 9 at MIN 27

    What happened: pbp: "(14:05) 5-K.Richardson punts 50 yards to DET 23, Center-43-B.Liddiard. 80-D.Howard to DET 28 for 5 yards (42-J.Brewer). PENALTY on DET-36-S.Trejo, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 23."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 31-24. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 6.8 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 3Controversy 2Outcome 820/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2002_06_DET_MIN

  7. 14
    CASE #14FLAGGED
    Nov 18, 2012 · vs GB · L 20-24

    Q4 10:21, 2nd & 10 at DET 33

    What happened: pbp: "(10:21) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass incomplete short left to 87-J.Nelson. PENALTY on DET-31-D.Florence, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at DET 33 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 24-20. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 6.7 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 3Controversy 2Outcome 820/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2012_11_GB_DET

  8. 13
    CASE #13FLAGGED
    Sep 24, 2017 · vs ATL · L 26-30

    Q4 01:10, 1st & 10 at ATL 18

    What happened: pbp: "(1:10) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 11-M.Jones to ATL 2 for 16 yards (22-K.Neal). PENALTY on DET-67-Z.Kerin, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 18 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 30-26. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 8.6 pts. Same final drive that ended on the infamous replay-reversal/10-second runoff (Detroit Free Press).

    Stakes 5Swing 3Controversy 4Outcome 820/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2017_03_ATL_DET · source 2 ↗

  9. 12
    CASE #12FLAGGED
    Nov 22, 2001 · vs GB · L 27-29

    Q2 06:20, 2nd & 11 at GB 35

    What happened: pbp: "(6:20) 8-M.McMahon scrambles left end ran ob at GB 29 for 6 yards. PENALTY on DET-79-E.Beverly, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at GB 35 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 29-27. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.4 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 1021/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2001_11_GB_DET

  10. 11
    CASE #11FLAGGED
    Oct 12, 2008 · @ MIN · L 10-12

    Q3 11:44, 1st & 10 at MIN 45

    What happened: pbp: "(11:44) 32-R.Johnson left tackle to MIN 34 for 11 yards. PENALTY on DET-64-E.Mulitalo, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at MIN 45 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 12-10. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.6 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 1021/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2008_06_DET_MIN

  11. 10
    CASE #10FLAGGED
    Nov 24, 2002 · @ CHI · L 17-20

    Q4 02:33, 1st & 10 at DET 20

    What happened: pbp: "(2:33) 34-J.Stewart left end to DET 25 for 5 yards (23-J.Azumah, 30-M.Brown). PENALTY on DET-83-J.Owens, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 25."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 20-17. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 4.4 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 1021/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2002_12_DET_CHI

  12. 9
    CASE #09FLAGGED
    Oct 3, 2010 · @ GB · L 26-28

    Q4 11:04, 2nd & 3 at DET 36

    What happened: pbp: "(11:04) 44-J.Best right tackle to DET 37 for 1 yard (52-C.Matthews). PENALTY on DET-77-G.Cherilus, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 36 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 28-26. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 5.3 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 2Controversy 2Outcome 1021/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2010_04_DET_GB

  13. 8
    CASE #08FLAGGED
    Nov 28, 2019 · vs CHI · L 20-24

    Q4 01:50, 2nd & 1 at DET 36

    What happened: pbp: "(1:50) (Shotgun) 10-D.Blough scrambles up the middle pushed ob at DET 42 for 6 yards (21-H.Clinton-Dix). PENALTY on DET-71-R.Wagner, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 36 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 24-20. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 10.3 pts.

    Stakes 7Swing 4Controversy 2Outcome 821/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2019_13_CHI_DET

  14. 7
    CASE #07FLAGGED
    Dec 30, 2023 · @ DAL · L 19-20

    Q3 00:23, 1st & 10 at DET 25

    What happened: pbp: "(:23) 26-J.Gibbs up the middle to DAL 40 for 35 yards (92-D.Armstrong). PENALTY on DET-82-J.Mitchell, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 30."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 20-19. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 3.3 pts. Noted in the team's own recap; overshadowed by the Decker 2-point ruling.

    Stakes 7Swing 1Controversy 3Outcome 1021/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2023_17_DET_DAL · source 2 ↗

  15. 6
    CASE #06FLAGGED
    Dec 22, 2013 · vs NYG · L 20-23

    OT 14:00, 2nd & 10 at DET 28

    What happened: pbp: "(14:00) (Shotgun) 35-J.Bell right end to DET 39 for 11 yards (57-J.Williams). PENALTY on DET-82-D.Dickerson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DET 28 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 23-20. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 10.2 pts.

    Stakes 8Swing 4Controversy 2Outcome 1024/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2013_16_NYG_DET

  16. 5
    CASE #05FLAGGED
    Sep 16, 2018 · @ SF · L 27-30

    Q4 02:24, 3rd & 2 at SF 43

    What happened: pbp: "(2:24) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left intended for 22-M.Breida INTERCEPTED by 47-T.Walker at SF 44. 47-T.Walker to SF 7 for 37 yards (10-J.Garoppolo). PENALTY on DET-28-Q.Diggs, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at SF 43 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 30-27. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 7.7 pts. Quandre Diggs publicly called it 'Awful' (Detroit Free Press).

    Stakes 5Swing 3Controversy 6Outcome 1024/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2018_02_DET_SF · source 2 ↗

  17. 4
    CASE #04NO-CALL
    Sep 17, 2023 · vs SEA · L 31-37

    OT 05:48, 3rd & 2 at DET 6

    What happened: NO-CALL: Seahawks RT Jake Curhan appeared to hold Aidan Hutchinson as Geno Smith threw the walk-off TD to Tyler Lockett.

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 37-31. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 8.0 pts. Widely panned no-call (SI, ClickOnDetroit: 'Short answer: Yes.'); Hutchinson declined comment citing fines.

    Stakes 6Swing 3Controversy 7Outcome 824/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2023_02_SEA_DET · source 2 ↗ · source 3 ↗

  18. 3
    CASE #03FLAGGED
    Jan 4, 2015 · @ DAL (Playoffs) · L 20-24

    Q4 03:40, 3rd & 7 at DET 13

    What happened: pbp: "(3:40) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 25-L.Dunbar to DET 15 for -2 yards (54-D.Levy). PENALTY on DET-54-D.Levy, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at DET 13 - No Play."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 24-20. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 9.3 pts. Part of the drive MLive noted 'included a pair of defensive holding calls against the Lions.'

    Stakes 10Swing 4Controversy 4Outcome 826/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2014_18_DET_DAL · source 2 ↗

  19. 2
    CASE #02FLAGGED
    Sep 23, 2012 · @ TEN · L 41-44

    OT 12:42, 3rd & 16 at TEN 38

    What happened: pbp: "(12:42) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker scrambles left end to TEN 47 for 9 yards (52-J.Durant). PENALTY on DET-28-D.Bentley, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at TEN 47."

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 44-41. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 25.0 pts.

    Stakes 6Swing 10Controversy 2Outcome 1028/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2012_03_DET_TEN

  20. 1
    CASE #01NO-CALL
    Jan 4, 2015 · @ DAL (Playoffs) · L 20-24

    Q4 06:00, 4th & 6 at DET 42

    What happened: NO-CALL: Cowboys LG Ronald Leary held Ndamukong Suh (per the NFL's own admission); Romo hit Witten for 21 yards on 4th-and-6.

    Why it hurt: Lions lost 24-20. Win-probability swing against DET on the play: 22.7 pts. NFL admitted to the Lions the hold on Suh was missed (ESPN/SI).

    Stakes 10Swing 9Controversy 10Outcome 837/40

    nflverse pbp game_id 2014_18_DET_DAL · source 2 ↗ · source 3 ↗