NFL Admits to Officiating Error as Lions Star Is Punished Late for Illegal Play on Tucker Kraft During Packers Game

NFL officiating has endured relentless criticism throughout the 2026 season, but a controversial Week 7 Packers – Lions showdown pushed frustration to a boiling point. Amid eight penalties against Green Bay and sharp rebukes from the broadcast booth, one glaring oversight stood out: Lions safety Brian Branch’s unflagged helmet-to-helmet hit on Tucker Kraft. Long after the dust had settled and Green Bay had already played its eighth game, the league put forward an unmistakable postgame confession of an officiating mistake that came too late to save the Packers’ 20-17 Week 7 defeat.