*** Complain about the officials thread *** (1 Viewer)

[larry_boy_44]

Clearly the officiating does a disservice to the Steelers as well. Instead of enjoying their super bowl win and Cowher getting the monkey off his back and the Bettis love-in, et al, they're forced to defend what amounts to an indefensible position...that they deserved to win this game.

It's almost like Barry Bonds winning the Home Run title. (*) It's quite possible the Steelers would have won Super Bowl XL on their own. Unfortunately, due to sloppy officiating, we'll never know and it will always be debated.

 

[BoulderBob]

Hey, the NFL pays these guys millions, they will get what they want...

 

[Reaper]

So your point is the refs cheated?  That's the only conclusion I can draw from your line of reasoning.  We can agree to disagree then.

No - I think the point is, It's unfortunate and it sucks to be Seattle or a Seattle fan today and as a FOOTBALL fan you should understand how it SUCKS to lose that way and if it were your team you'd feel a little cheated.

and it sucks that there is now an asterix next to the Steelers' win in many people's eyes...

I won't even go THAT far....The Steelers won- Congrats...

I just think the Steelers and their fans should be respectful enough to acknowledge and realize as Sports fans how much it sucks to lose a game in which all these questionable calls made it harder for you to win and refrain from the Whiny Tool stuff or saying that Seattle fans are crying - There WERE highly questionable calls and They DID go against Seattle and that DOES Suck... And it is open for debate - Not "Crying".

I feel real bad for Seattle fans.

 

[PMENFAN]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right. Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call? If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me?

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it? He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up very very suspicious to me

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold. On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2. This was probably the biggest conversion of the game. When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag. The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey. If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game. I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses. However, this game is an exception. EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers. This just flat out reeks of a fix. I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

To sum it up. YOu wanted the refs to ignore penalties, because it would have benefitted Seattle? wouldn't that have been a stronger indictment of 'fixed' games? Seattle lost because they have up a Hail Mary, a WR option (like it was an option) pass, and a 76 yard run. It was PI. It was a Hold. The Hasting play may look like holding to you on TIVO, but at game speed, interior holding goes unseen far more than outside, becasue of the clutter.

 

[Banger]

Were there a few "soft" penalties in this game? yes. Were they insurmountable? No. Games like this happen every single week in the NFL without question, the difference is that they aren't under the microscope that this game was.

The difference in the game was not the ref's it was that Seattles defense gave up 3 40+ yard plays (2 for td's) and the Steelers defense did not. They also missed two field goals. You can't blame the ref's for that.

I'm sure it's been brought up in this thread but what about the obvious 1st half fumble by Stevens that was called an incompletion?

 

[PMENFAN]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

 

[jkruppe]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

 

[Workhorse]

Were there a few "soft" penalties in this game? yes. Were they insurmountable? No. Games like this happen every single week in the NFL without question, the difference is that they aren't under the microscope that this game was.

The difference in the game was not the ref's it was that Seattles defense gave up 3 40+ yard plays (2 for td's) and the Steelers defense did not. They also missed two field goals. You can't blame the ref's for that.

I'm sure it's been brought up in this thread but what about the obvious 1st half fumble by Stevens that was called an incompletion?

I'm not sure that one would have mattered much. It looked like Pitt would have recovered the ball around/inside the 20 yard line on that play. The "incompletion" occured on 3rd down and Seattle punted into the end zone for a touchback.I don't think that play had much effect on the game.

 

[Workhorse]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

But when the "stiff arm" comes as a result of being handchecked or held by the DB, you very rarely see it called.I thought it was a weak PI call.

 

[20431]

If you read the post, I didn't just see it on TIVO. I saw it live because it was incredibly obvious, and I ready for the ball to move back. The only reason I brought up TIVO was in case somebody wanted to go back and see it. I never said refs should ignore calls in order to go in Seattle's favor. I'm just saying that every single questionable call went in favor of the more marketable Steelers. If you're going to call ticky tack penalties on one team, you better call them on the other team. When the losing quarterback has a QB rating of 22 and the defense allows nearly 400 yards, you're gonna need some help if you're going to win going away.

 

[JaxBill]

If the playoff were truly rigged, we would have seen the brother with the highest scoring offense playing the brother whose team is in the media capital of the world.

 

[fred_1_15301]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

I'm a steeler fan and I'm enjoying the victory despite this thread. The Steelers won this game because of 3 plays. Were they outplayed most of this game? Possibly. Big plays are a part of the game and the Steelers had them and the Hawks didn't. That was the difference. The Hawks had so many opportunities to put that game away early but kept shooting themselves in the foot. It eventually caught up to them. The Steelers played their worst game of the playoffs by far and still won by 11 against a very good team. I don't really care what everyone says--I knew the Steelers were the better team going into the game and I know that they're the best team coming out of that game.

 

[20431]

If the playoff were truly rigged, we would have seen the brother with the highest scoring offense playing the brother whose team is in the media capital of the world.

Why do you think the Polamalu interception was overturned? I'm not saying the playoffs are completely rigged, I'm just saying that certain teams get a little help. It is just like when Kobe and Shaq both were in LA. The games weren't completely rigged, but the refs always made calls in favor of the Lakers because they were the most marketable team in the NBA.

 

[Ronnie Mack]

This whole season- I hate to say it- very inconsistent. The NFL needs to change their policies- these guys just have too much authority impacting the games- I know that sounds strange- but anyone could see the ineptness that existed out there.

 

[Workhorse]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

I'm a steeler fan and I'm enjoying the victory despite this thread. The Steelers won this game because of 3 plays. Were they outplayed most of this game? Possibly. Big plays are a part of the game and the Steelers had them and the Hawks didn't. That was the difference. The Hawks had so many opportunities to put that game away early but kept shooting themselves in the foot. It eventually caught up to them. The Steelers played their worst game of the playoffs by far and still won by 11 against a very good team. I don't really care what everyone says--I knew the Steelers were the better team going into the game and I know that they're the best team coming out of that game.

That's fine. But I never want to hear another Steeler fan complain again about the 2001 AFC title game and how they were the "better team".

You can't have it both ways.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

This whole season- I hate to say it- very inconsistent. The NFL needs to change their policies- these guys just have too much authority impacting the games- I know that sounds strange- but anyone could see the ineptness that existed out there.

Hey, a thread on how the refs jobbed Seattle ! Cool !

 

[Jeremy]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right. Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call? If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me?

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it? He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up very very suspicious to me

4. Hasselbecks "block below the waist" - How do you block someone below the waist when you are trying to tackle someone?

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold. On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2. This was probably the biggest conversion of the game. When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag. The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey. If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game. I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses. However, this game is an exception. EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers. This just flat out reeks of a fix. I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

The steelers got away with a horsecollar tackle on Alexander that would have extended a drive that ended in no points, too. But I don't think it was rigged. Just poorly officiated, like most of the other playoff games. The NFL has to do something about this. I don't know what, but they've got to do something.

 

[Norman Einstein]

maybe this has already been mentioned as I haven't read the entire thread...but

wonder what we'd be hearing if the roles had been reversed...

 

[SofaKings.]

This whole season- I hate to say it- very inconsistent. The NFL needs to change their policies- these guys just have too much authority  impacting the games- I know that sounds strange- but anyone could see the ineptness that existed out there.

Hey, a thread on how the refs jobbed Seattle ! Cool !

Exactly.Freaking whining babies.

 

[fred_1_15301]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right. Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call? If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me?

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it? He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up very very suspicious to me

4. Hasselbecks "block below the waist" - How do you block someone below the waist when you are trying to tackle someone?

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold. On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2. This was probably the biggest conversion of the game. When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag. The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey. If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game. I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses. However, this game is an exception. EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers. This just flat out reeks of a fix. I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

Wow this is an unbelievably pathetic thread. Any call that went against Seattle is "blatantly" terrible? You need to go back and watch the game sober because none of those were terrible calls. Questionable at best but they definitely were legit.

 

[Gargoylez]

Wow. Truly bitter Seattle fans.

The ref's threw the game for the Seahawks?

The refs missed a blocking assignment on Townsends sack? Or did the refs miss the throw that Ike Taylor got? Wait... Refs didn't swat the ball away on the Hines ward play right?

Where were the referee's on the 5+ holding calls they overlooked for seattle?

No wait, that doesn't matter. Seattle lost and the fans are going to blamne everyone but the Seattle seahawks.

They had the chance to catch up AND they didn't. No fault but their own.

So go whine about it elsewhere. Pit IS the better team and it showed yesterday. I dont even like either team.

I am a Buc's fan and the Ref's truly screwed the bucs on two TD's in teh Washington game (the TD return he was down by contact, and Lavar Arrington Fumbled prior to being tackled). But the Buccaneers had a chance to come back and win and they didn't. They lost. Fair and square. I complained about the ref's but it was no one's fault but the buccaneers for losing. End of story.

Maybe try and have a little sportsmanship. Take defeat like a man. I am sure we can hand out purses and feminine napkins for those who are still crying...

 

[3C's]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

I'm a steeler fan and I'm enjoying the victory despite this thread. The Steelers won this game because of 3 plays. Were they outplayed most of this game? Possibly. Big plays are a part of the game and the Steelers had them and the Hawks didn't. That was the difference. The Hawks had so many opportunities to put that game away early but kept shooting themselves in the foot. It eventually caught up to them. The Steelers played their worst game of the playoffs by far and still won by 11 against a very good team. I don't really care what everyone says--I knew the Steelers were the better team going into the game and I know that they're the best team coming out of that game.

That's fine. But I never want to hear another Steeler fan complain again about the 2001 AFC title game and how they were the "better team".

You can't have it both ways.

In 1995, the Steelers were the better team but lost to Dallas thanks to a couple of incredibly poor throws to Larry Brown. Sometimes you win on big plays, this year, sometimes you lose on big plays, 1995.

 

[Tau837]

To help the Seahawks fans a bit...

The problem with the Roeth TD was not that the TD call was upheld, it was that the ref was signaling 4th down running towards Roeth, and then for some strange reason decided to give Pitt the TD.  If he would have stood with his first call (4th down), that would ALSO HAVE BEEN UPHELD by the ref reviewing the play.  It was really too close to call to have anything called on the field overturned.  This would have either made Pitt go for it on 4th down, maybe to get stuffed again or to score a TD, or kick a FG to tie the game.

I was saying that all day yesterday... the ONLY REASON Roeth got the TD is 'cuz the ref called it a touchdown based on Roeth crawling into the endzone after the play... only way Seattle's D could have stopped that TD was getting called for a personal foul and picking Roeth up and throwing him backwards after the tackle...

Regardless, ball crossed the line. It was fairly clear to me. BARELY, but all that ball has to do is TOUCH the beginning of the white line for the endzone, and it did before Roeths was pushed back a bit. There were a lot of f'd up calls but this wasn't one of them (although it was curious that the linesman did hesitate, but in the end they got that call correct)

 

[3MTA3]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

I'm a steeler fan and I'm enjoying the victory despite this thread. The Steelers won this game because of 3 plays. Were they outplayed most of this game? Possibly. Big plays are a part of the game and the Steelers had them and the Hawks didn't. That was the difference. The Hawks had so many opportunities to put that game away early but kept shooting themselves in the foot. It eventually caught up to them. The Steelers played their worst game of the playoffs by far and still won by 11 against a very good team. I don't really care what everyone says--I knew the Steelers were the better team going into the game and I know that they're the best team coming out of that game.

That's fine. But I never want to hear another Steeler fan complain again about the 2001 AFC title game and how they were the "better team".

You can't have it both ways.

In 1995, the Steelers were the better team but lost to Dallas thanks to a couple of incredibly poor throws to Larry Brown. Sometimes you win on big plays, this year, sometimes you lose on big plays, 1995.

I'm a Steeler homer but Dallas was definitely the team to beat that year. I even remember the media thanking the Steelers for actually making a game of it because the previous few SBs were blowouts.

 

[20431]

Every single questionable call went in favor of the more marketable Steelers. Every single one of them

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I'm a devote Seattle homer, and the refs had a big impact on the game, but that's not why Seattle lost. They had chances to make plays and didn't.

Some of you folks should learn from Shick!To the whiners out there : calls go both ways. D-Jax DID push off. He was also out of bounds on that catch, and I can't believe people are arguing that. Roethlisberger's TD was legit. The holding call on Locklear was a judgment call that could have gone either way. The only call I thought really sucked was the clip on Hasselbeck. The rest were close.

To those implying a fix was in, you're being absurd. To those of you Seahawk fans who have been all class after this (and almost ALL of them have been, most of the complaining is coming from Steeler haters more than Seahawk fans) - congratulations on a great season. You have a terrific team there, and you played a great ball game. Nothing but respect.

 

[Jeremy]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right.  Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call?  If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me? 

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it?  He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up  very very suspicious to me

4. Hasselbecks "block below the waist" - How do you block someone below the waist when you are trying to tackle someone?

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold.  On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2.  This was probably the biggest conversion of the game.  When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag.  The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey.  If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game.  I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses.  However, this game is an exception.  EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers.  This just flat out reeks of a fix.  I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

Wow this is an unbelievably pathetic thread. Any call that went against Seattle is "blatantly" terrible? You need to go back and watch the game sober because none of those were terrible calls. Questionable at best but they definitely were legit.

You thought the Hasslebeck penalty and the hold that negated the completion to Stevens on the one were legit? I do think the DJax pushoff was a good call.

 

[UlyssesNorris]

Wow, to think I started this thread by trying to make a lame joke about the Lions...

I don't think the officials cost the Seahawks the game. But they cost us, the neutral fans, the opportunity to watch a close game.

The Jackson offensive interference was correct by the letter of the law. But shouldn't the illegal contact by the defender on the play also have been called?

I think Big Ben scored on the TD. It looked to me like the corner of the ball broke the plane before he got knocked back. Even if not, the refs made the right call on that one. Not anywhere near enough evidence to overturn.

The holding call on Locklear was utter BS. I'm not even sure holding actually took place on the play. One of the most ticky-tack holding calls I've seen, and it made a huge difference in the game.

As for the Hasselbeck tackling penalty, I've never seen that called when a guy's clearly trying to make a diving tackle. A very bizarre call, though I don't think it had all that much effect on the outcome.

Having said all that, if Jerramy Stevens could catch and if the Seahawks hadn't utterly screwed up clock management in both halves, the calls might not have mattered.

 

[Keys Myaths]

[bURGANDY] THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!!! [/bURGANDY]

 

[Tau837]

Were there a few "soft" penalties in this game? yes. Were they insurmountable? No. Games like this happen every single week in the NFL without question, the difference is that they aren't under the microscope that this game was.

The difference in the game was not the ref's it was that Seattles defense gave up 3 40+ yard plays (2 for td's) and the Steelers defense did not. They also missed two field goals. You can't blame the ref's for that.

I'm sure it's been brought up in this thread but what about the obvious 1st half fumble by Stevens that was called an incompletion?

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Poor officiating detracted from the game IMO. I will not go so far as to try to take away from the Steeler's victory because of it.

If that was offensive pass interference Michael Irvin never caught a legitimate ball in his career.

 

[PMENFAN]

Penalties create opportunities. Seattle did move the ball, a lot, especially on their side of the field. Time and again, they sputtered with a shorter field (Steelers side of the field). Were the 2 missed FG's, in a dome, the result of poor officiating? Put even one of those up, and we have a 1 score game boys.

Time and again when Seattle needed somebody to make a play, maybe sealing the corner to break a 76 yard run, or the WR option pass, they didn't. They did have several short plays, and mini drives. but, they couldn't seem to maintain it. It was almost like they got 2-3 first downs every time they got the ball, but then punted.

Seattle lost the game because of giving up big plays and not making any of their own. Pittsburgh won because they came up with 3 big plays, and Seattle gave them up. That sums the game up.

 

[[icon]]

Every single questionable call went in favor of the more marketable Steelers. Every single one of them

Perception > Reality I wanted the Seahawks to win, but get over it man

Oh, and strap on your

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Were there a few "soft" penalties in this game?  yes.  Were they insurmountable?  No.  Games like this happen every single week in the NFL without question, the difference is that they aren't under the microscope that this game was. 

The difference in the game was not the ref's it was that Seattles defense gave up 3 40+ yard plays (2 for td's) and the Steelers defense did not.  They also missed two field goals.  You can't blame the ref's for that. 

I'm sure it's been brought up in this thread but what about the obvious 1st half fumble by Stevens that was called an incompletion?

Looked like a football move to me as he caught ball and moved it over to the tucked position and started to turn to run. I agree that could have been ruled a fumble.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

[bURGANDY] THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!!! [/bURGANDY]

 

[3MTA3]

[bURGANDY] THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!!! [/bURGANDY]

That's some good schtick

 

[3C's]

If that was offensive pass interference Michael Irvin never caught a legitimate ball in his career.

Ok, so it was pass interference then.

 

[Black Sunday]

Congrats to the Steelers and there fans.

That said, anyone want to rationalize the non-call on the Porter horsecollar tackle of Alexander or the holding call on the punt return?

That was the one that just topped it off. Open field.. everyone in the stadium could see the horse collar tackle. Terrible.

The Horse Collar only gets called if the defender rides up on the back of the ball carrier's legs, which Porter did not do.

 

[PMENFAN]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right. Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call? If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me?

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it? He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up very very suspicious to me

4. Hasselbecks "block below the waist" - How do you block someone below the waist when you are trying to tackle someone?

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold. On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2. This was probably the biggest conversion of the game. When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag. The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey. If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game. I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses. However, this game is an exception. EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers. This just flat out reeks of a fix. I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

Wow this is an unbelievably pathetic thread. Any call that went against Seattle is "blatantly" terrible? You need to go back and watch the game sober because none of those were terrible calls. Questionable at best but they definitely were legit.

You thought the Hasslebeck penalty and the hold that negated the completion to Stevens on the one were legit? I do think the DJax pushoff was a good call.

The Hasselbeck call was horrible. The hold was a hold, and the pushoff was a pushoff. So yes, we have one blatantly, though irrelevent, bad call. Does it matter if the ball is at the 46, or 39, on the option pass? I don't think so. Both are good field position, but 15 yards at that point, the way the series played out, is irrelevent.

 

[Norman Einstein]

where's the "complain about the tv coverage" thread? did they ever provide any stats related to game?

 

[Pick]

Not a fan of either team. Officiating was terrible and definitely hobbled Seattle. I'm not saying the refs cheated, just that they made some terrible calls and they all seemed to hurt Seatte.

Congrats to Pittsburgh but I will always wonder if Seattle could've beat them straight up.

 

[tommyboy]

did the refs cause hasselbeck to throw the red zone INT right after the phantom hold? No? Yes? Which is it?

did the refs cause Darrell Jackson to extend his arm and use it to gain seperation from the defender, when he didn't need to because he already had him beat? No? Did the refs cause Jackson to do it right in front of the back judge?

did the refs cause Jeremy Stevens to drop several passes and lose a fumble, which was never called?

did the refs cause Hasselbeck to melt down with 45 seconds left in the 1st half and waste 30 seconds trying to call a play?

did the refs cause Seattle to blow assignments on Willie Parkers 75 yd run?

did the refs cause Seattle to blow assignments on Randle El's 43 yd TD pass to a wide open Ward?

did the refs cause Seattle to give up two crucial first downs late in the game when Pittsburgh was obviously running the clock down, first to Randle El, then to Big Ben? That was the game.

 

[Benchwarmers]

Foxsports writer agrees refs were a major part in the Steelers winning. Good reading and really backs up each point the writer is making.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5310192

 

[Keys Myaths]

Every single questionable call went in favor of the more marketable Steelers. Every single one of them

Okay, I'm really going to have to take you seriously for a second to show you how ridiculous this all is.

Benefits for the NFL fixing the game:

1. Pro-Steeler crowd goes home happy.

2. Slightly more marketing opportunities for the NFL with Pittsburgh instead of Seattle.

Drawbacks for the NFL fixing the game:

1. If this was ever, EVER confirmed (by a referee, league official, anyone's sister, etc.):

--Fan retaliation against the NFL would be HUGE. Ratings, jersey sales, league revenue would PLUMMET.

--The NFL might have to fold because of lack of interest after a scandal of this size.

--Severe Congressional investigation, many parties involved could be in jail.

--The Super Bowl goes from the most-watched program of the year to a cocktail party joke.

2. Even if this WASN'T caught: Referees looked at in a bad light (can't get calls correct throughout the playoffs, especially in the big game), and the league suffers as a whole because of lack of confidence in officiating.

Now, look at the benefits, and look at the drawbacks.

Why in the HELL would the NFL even *think* about fixing a game? It would make ZERO sense for them to do so.

 

[PMENFAN]

The evidence starts at the Polamalu interception, when the NFL didn't fine Porter for his comments because they knew he was right. Then the Super Bowl looks like its fixed in favor of the more liked and more marketable Pittsburgh Steelers.

1. The Darrell Jackson "pushoff" - yes, technically it was a pushoff and I want the NFL to start being more strict on this, but in every other game of the season receivers could easily get away with this, and now that its looking good for Seattle they start making this call? If it was Hines Ward on that pass, it would have been a no call

2. The "holding" call on the punt return - Are you kidding me?

3. The Roethlisberger touchdown - There was no conclusive evidence so it shouldn't have been overturned in replay, but did you see the ref when he called it? He ran almost the whole way looking like he's going to spot the ball, then all of a sudden he pauses a little bit, and decides to put his hands up very very suspicious to me

4. Hasselbecks "block below the waist" - How do you block someone below the waist when you are trying to tackle someone?

4. The phantom holding call on Locklear - you've got to be freaking kidding me that's not a hold. On TV, it seemed like the flag was late, I'm guessing the flag didn't get thrown until it looked like a sure thing that Seattle would take the lead with first and goal on the one.

5. A huge no call on Jeff Hartings' blatant and obvious hold - If you have the game on TIVO, go back and look at Roethlisberger's quarterback draw on 3rd and 2. This was probably the biggest conversion of the game. When I was watching it, I was sure that it was coming back, and became shocked when there was no flag. The center for the Steelers, I think it was Jeff Hartings, swung his guy around with both hands by the jersey. If Locklear was holding, then there was no doubt that Hartings was holding.

The only other time I have blamed a football game on the refs was the Miami/Ohio State Nationial Championship game. I usually go by the fact that bad calls even out and that winners make plays, losers make excuses. However, this game is an exception. EVERY single questionable call went in favor of the much more marketable Steelers. This just flat out reeks of a fix. I haven't seen something this bad since Kobe and Shaq were both in LA.

Wow this is an unbelievably pathetic thread. Any call that went against Seattle is "blatantly" terrible? You need to go back and watch the game sober because none of those were terrible calls. Questionable at best but they definitely were legit.

You thought the Hasslebeck penalty and the hold that negated the completion to Stevens on the one were legit? I do think the DJax pushoff was a good call.

The Hasselbeck call was horrible. The hold was a hold, and the pushoff was a pushoff. So yes, we have one blatantly, though irrelevent, bad call. Does it matter if the ball is at the 46, or 39, on the option pass? I don't think so. Both are good field position, but 15 yards at that point, the way the series played out, is irrelevent.

 

[3C's]

like I've siad... the Super Bowl is NOT the time to start making calls that hadn't been amde all year/decade/the entire history of football... did D-Jax push off? Yeah... But, more importantly, is it EVER called? and the answer to that more important question is "no", it is NEVER EVER called...

and that holding was extremely ticky-tack and if they are going to call that they needed to call dozens of other holding calls the whole game through (none of which were called)...

It is always called, especially when you change direction and stiff arm the defencer, right in front of the back judge. It will be called every time. (Randy Moss gets called for this alot, becausxe he does it a lot. Why does he do it a lot? Because it doesn't always get called. If you get away w/ it, good play. If not, your fans can whine that it shouldn't have been called, because you get away w/ it a lot)And, on the holding. Again, it's on the edge. It's a lot more blatant than if it's a center on the NT or something inside.

I'll reiterate...this is what Steelers fans are reduced to today, instead of enjoying their win they're left with sketchy (at best) justification. Why aren't more 'Burgh fans outraged at the officials for robbing them of the sweetness of their victory?

I'm a steeler fan and I'm enjoying the victory despite this thread. The Steelers won this game because of 3 plays. Were they outplayed most of this game? Possibly. Big plays are a part of the game and the Steelers had them and the Hawks didn't. That was the difference. The Hawks had so many opportunities to put that game away early but kept shooting themselves in the foot. It eventually caught up to them. The Steelers played their worst game of the playoffs by far and still won by 11 against a very good team. I don't really care what everyone says--I knew the Steelers were the better team going into the game and I know that they're the best team coming out of that game.

That's fine. But I never want to hear another Steeler fan complain again about the 2001 AFC title game and how they were the "better team".

You can't have it both ways.

In 1995, the Steelers were the better team but lost to Dallas thanks to a couple of incredibly poor throws to Larry Brown. Sometimes you win on big plays, this year, sometimes you lose on big plays, 1995.

I'm a Steeler homer but Dallas was definitely the team to beat that year. I even remember the media thanking the Steelers for actually making a game of it because the previous few SBs were blowouts.

The Steelers were the better team that day. Even former Cowboy James Washington said so on his radio show.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

Whether you agree with the calls or not, the way the game was officiated cheated everyone. Pittsburgh fans don't deserve the asterick talk nor should they need to be here debating whether the game was stacked in their favor or not. Seattle fans shouldn't have to sit here and wonder "what if" the game was "11 on 11". Fans of the game who had no particular loyalities should have had a classic game to watch instead of trying to figure out how to vote for the referee as MVP. What a waste of a season.

 

[SYMPHONY X]

I'm not a fan of either team.

Yes, Seattle had a few calls go against them, but this was nothing even remotely like the complete screw-job the Steelers overcame a few weeks ago.

Pittsburgh was in funk the whole first half and only managed to get maybe their B game going in the second half. But one half of their B game was enough to lay a double-digit loss on the Seahawks.

I feel pretty confident that the better team won.

 

[reg]

 

[jkruppe]

Whether you agree with the calls or not, the way the game was officiated cheated everyone. Pittsburgh fans don't deserve the asterick talk nor should they need to be here debating whether the game was stacked in their favor or not. Seattle fans shouldn't have to sit here and wonder "what if" the game was "11 on 11". Fans of the game who had no particular loyalities should have had a classic game to watch instead of trying to figure out how to vote for the referee as MVP. What a waste of a season.

This is exactly correct and what many of us are trying to say.