NFL supports decision to not overturn Seahawks' touchdown (1 Viewer)

[Sam Quentin]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066164/article/nfl-supports-decision-to-not-overturn-seahawks-touchdown?module=HP11_headline_stack

In Monday's game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Seattle faced a 4th-and-10 from the Green Bay 24 with eight seconds remaining in the game.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pass into the end zone. Several players, including Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings, jumped into the air in an attempt to catch the ball.

While the ball is in the air, Tate can be seen shoving Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields to the ground. This should have been a penalty for offensive pass interference, which would have ended the game. It was not called and is not reviewable in instant replay.

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player. The result of the play was a touchdown.

Replay Official Howard Slavin stopped the game for an instant replay review. The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball. In the end zone, a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable. .That is not the case in the field of play, only in the end zone.

Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.

The result of the game is final.

Applicable rules to the play are as follows:

A player (or players) jumping in the air has not legally gained possession of the ball until he satisfies the elements of a catch listed here.

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3 of the NFL Rule Book defines a catch:

A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds:

(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and

(b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and

© maintains control of the ball long enough, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, to enable him to perform any act common to the game (i.e., maintaining control long enough to pitch it, pass it, advance with it, or avoid or ward off an opponent, etc.).

When a player (or players) is going to the ground in the attempt to catch a pass, Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 1 states:

Player Going to the Ground. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 5 states:

Simultaneous Catch. If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball.

 

[texasheat]

oh good, I was wondering what the NFL thought of that play

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Shorter NFL: we truly just don't care.

 

[Sam Quentin]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

 

[cr8f]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066164/article/nfl-supports-decision-to-not-overturn-seahawks-touchdown?module=HP11_headline_stack

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player. The result of the play was a touchdown.

At least tell the truth. "If we reverse this play we are worried Seattle fans will go and we are worried about violence. "

There are good reasons to not change the outcome of games but this explanation is crap.

 

[Reepicheep]

Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.

 

[Sarnoff]

a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable

But there are a hundred VP's of officiating here in the Shark Pool and they all told me otherwise.

 

[jonessed]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

 

[mike9289]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000066164/article/nfl-supports-decision-to-not-overturn-seahawks-touchdown?module=HP11_headline_stack

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player. The result of the play was a touchdown.

At least tell the truth. "If we reverse this play we are worried Seattle fans will go and we are worried about violence. "

There are good reasons to not change the outcome of games but this explanation is crap.

That is what they were thinking. And maybe I thought that at first last night, but now upon further reflection...I bet Seattle fans by and large knew what the deal was; they would have exploded at first then calmed down, I believe.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I am :shuked: there were no other threads discussing this.

 

[SlaX]

Translation: "We would rather deal with the s-storm created by the call on the field rather than the cluster that would occur if we overturn the call and make ourselves look foolish in the process. Therefore, the ruling on the field stands. Touchdown Seattle."

I honestly don't blame them for supporting the official's ruling, however wrong it may be.

 

[Reepicheep]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

This is the NFL putting their fingers in their ears, shouting LALALALLALALALALA loudly, and hoping this whole thing will go away.Also, the replacement refs have already lost control. Even if the calls improve next week, the control situation will continue to deteriorate. The replacement refs have completely lost the players and coaches.

 

[treat88]

Damage control: Pretend everything is normal, hope the problem goes away.

NFL execs know we will all still watch. They'll just wait out the news cycle and let us turn our attention to Week 4.

 

[jonessed]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

They are really seeking to protect themselves and their decision to have the replacement referee in there in teh first place.So one ref puts up his hands as a TOUCHBACK.

*THEN* a different ref comes in AND PUTS HIS ARMS UP TO SIGNAL TOUCHDOWN. Say, WHO IS THAT GUY, exactly? Is he a high school ref? Does he know anyone with contacts with people with contacts in Vegas or Atlantic City? I'm not saying he does but WHO THE HELL KNOWS.

 

[Sam Quentin]

 

[mad sweeney]

Thank the gods, another thread about it...

 

[FootballGuy22]

First, the refs sucked the entire game.

Second, I thought that Tate had two hands on the ball before the Jennings had two feet down completing the catch/int making it simultaneous possession or at the least very difficult to overturn.

Third, I've seen very similar plays ruled simultaneous catches before by the "real" refs

A forward pass is complete (by the offense) or intercepted (by the defense) if a player, who is inbounds:

(a) secures control of the ball in his hands or arms prior to the ball touching the ground; and

(b) touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands; and

© maintains control of the ball long enough, after (a) and (b) have been fulfilled, to enable him to perform any act common to the game (i.e., maintaining control long enough to pitch it, pass it, advance with it, or avoid or ward off an opponent, etc.).

 

[Sinn Fein]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

They are really seeking to protect themselves and their decision to have the replacement referee in there in teh first place.So one ref puts up his hands as a TOUCHBACK.

*THEN* a different ref comes in AND PUTS HIS ARMS UP TO SIGNAL TOUCHDOWN. Say, WHO IS THAT GUY, exactly? Is he a high school ref? Does he know anyone with contacts with people with contacts in Vegas or Atlantic City? I'm not saying he does but WHO THE HELL KNOWS.

That part is actually untrue. Nobody gave the sign for a touchback, and I doubt that you will find any quote from the ref or the NFL that he thought it was an interception.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

I would love a poll of how many fans think at least one of their games was decided by a blown call, one way or the other.I bet it is running way high right now. No way to tell but it's probably way way way higher than ever before, on the level of asking people if Pro Wrestling is "real" or "rigged." The integrity of the game is non-existent right now.

 

[Sam Quentin]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now.

No. There's no excuse for the large cadre of football "experts" including ex-refs like Gerry Austin and ESPN's crew telling us so confidently that it wasn't reviewable.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

You know what - regardless of this one play - the biggest problem is that the coaches, players and fans expect...dare I say WANT to replacement officials to fail. Every call they make is scrutinized, every call they don't make is scrutinized. They are in a competely untenable position. Well, now there is a tipping point and everyone should be happy. The self-fulfilling prophecy has been realized.

If those had been regular officials they might well have reached the same conclusion (i.e., simultaneous possession) and the review would have not overturned them either - no definitive proof.

 

[mike9289]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

They are really seeking to protect themselves and their decision to have the replacement referee in there in teh first place.So one ref puts up his hands as a TOUCHBACK.

*THEN* a different ref comes in AND PUTS HIS ARMS UP TO SIGNAL TOUCHDOWN. Say, WHO IS THAT GUY, exactly? Is he a high school ref? Does he know anyone with contacts with people with contacts in Vegas or Atlantic City? I'm not saying he does but WHO THE HELL KNOWS.

That part is actually untrue. Nobody gave the sign for a touchback, and I doubt that you will find any quote from the ref or the NFL that he thought it was an interception.

Actually perhaps you're right.I got that idea from Gruden last night and I think I heard him (or someone else) say it during the live broadcast.

The ref on the left came in, he must have been marking the end of the play:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/786593/thumbs/r-SEAHAWKS-PACKERS-ENDING-NFL-huge.jpg

He was actually doing the top right signal in this chart:

http://s8.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/233427CC.jpg

It is shown in this chart as "Time Out":

http://www.unitedstatescartoonfootballleague.com/nfl_official_signals.jpg

 

[Sam Quentin]

You know what - regardless of this one play - the biggest problem is that the coaches, players and fans expect...dare I say WANT to replacement officials to fail. Every call they make is scrutinized, every call they don't make is scrutinized. They are in a competely untenable position. Well, now there is a tipping point and everyone should be happy. The self-fulfilling prophecy has been realized.

If those had been regular officials they might well have reached the same conclusion (i.e., simultaneous possession) and the review would have not overturned them either - no definitive proof.

They would have seen it like this...

 

[Godsbrother]

What did you expect them to say "The replacement refs and our whole IR review system suck"?

 

[jonessed]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

The fallout of overturning a referee decision and the result of the game would be unbelievably difficult to handle. Even if they technically could do it I don't see any way that they actually would. A decision like that would have repercussions for years.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there.

Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

 

[mad sweeney]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

They couldn't do it in a game of so many bad calls. If it were a decently reffed game without any drive killing/extending bad calls and this one was the only controversial one, then I wouldn't actually have much of a problem with it. As poorly as those guys reffed that game, for both sides, that would be completely absurd of them to correct one call just because it was the last one of the game.

 

[GroveDiesel]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

I agree. This actually makes the situation worse. They are totally misinterpreting other rules in order to try to claim that the call was actually correct. If the simultaneous possession is reviewable in the endzone, then the refs screwed up by not overturning the call on review which is even more egregious then not being able to make the correct call live.

 

[Reepicheep]

What did you expect them to say "The replacement refs and our whole IR review system suck"?

Actually I expected them to not say a thing about it. If they're going to be willfully obtuse about the thing, might as well just go whole hog and pretend it never happened.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

You know what - regardless of this one play - the biggest problem is that the coaches, players and fans expect...dare I say WANT to replacement officials to fail. Every call they make is scrutinized, every call they don't make is scrutinized. They are in a competely untenable position. Well, now there is a tipping point and everyone should be happy. The self-fulfilling prophecy has been realized.

If those had been regular officials they might well have reached the same conclusion (i.e., simultaneous possession) and the review would have not overturned them either - no definitive proof.

They would have seen it like this...

Different play; also Austin comes away with the ball, no way Tate was walking away with that ball.

 

[mad sweeney]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

Again, they got screwed over on that call at the end of the game but were the beneficiaries of several bad calls during the game. Not seeing them complain too much about those. Both teams got screwed, Seattle was the beneficiary of the final screw. Neither team would've "deserved" to win this one based on how the refs botched it.

 

[flapgreen]

 

[Reepicheep]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

They couldn't do it in a game of so many bad calls. If it were a decently reffed game without any drive killing/extending bad calls and this one was the only controversial one, then I wouldn't actually have much of a problem with it. As poorly as those guys reffed that game, for both sides, that would be completely absurd of them to correct one call just because it was the last one of the game.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

You know what - regardless of this one play - the biggest problem is that the coaches, players and fans expect...dare I say WANT to replacement officials to fail. Every call they make is scrutinized, every call they don't make is scrutinized. They are in a competely untenable position. Well, now there is a tipping point and everyone should be happy. The self-fulfilling prophecy has been realized.

If those had been regular officials they might well have reached the same conclusion (i.e., simultaneous possession) and the review would have not overturned them either - no definitive proof.

They would have seen it like this...

I am a Rams fan - so obviously don't know mch about football....but when I heard the controversy I was expecting it to be MUCH more egregious. I can see why Packer fans would be upset, but it wasn't as night and day as what everyone is saying. Had the play been ruled th eother way I think the review booth would have upheld that as well.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

Again, they got screwed over on that call at the end of the game but were the beneficiaries of several bad calls during the game. Not seeing them complain too much about those. Both teams got screwed, Seattle was the beneficiary of the final screw. Neither team would've "deserved" to win this one based on how the refs botched it.

It was the only penalty they commented on, I'm not sure what the NFL's take would be on all those other calls.

 

[mad sweeney]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

They couldn't do it in a game of so many bad calls. If it were a decently reffed game without any drive killing/extending bad calls and this one was the only controversial one, then I wouldn't actually have much of a problem with it. As poorly as those guys reffed that game, for both sides, that would be completely absurd of them to correct one call just because it was the last one of the game.

I like you reeps, my Packer fan denial comments exclude you. You've been downright reasonable and I think I've given you a few of those GPs as well. Sucks for me to not be able to be proud of a win and rub it in the face of my cheesehead friends.

 

[delusional]

Done. Simple as that. After this decision came out, I would fully support a player strike. This is atrocious.

What fans need to do is start writing sponsors of the NFL. Goodell is worse then Bettman. There is no way around it.

You have payers, coaches, media, former HOF players outright blasting the NFL & Goodell, whom should be fired ASAP. Worse commissioner in the big. Saying that the integrity of the sport has been completely washed away. How they could review that and determine that both players had equal control just opened up a whole new can of worms about the NFLs stance on everything.

"Michael Tanier ‏@MikeTanier Woman just entered the coffee shop holding her baby. I patted the baby on the head. A replacement official just awarded me custody.

 

[Sarnoff]

so now we learn that possession is reviewable when everybody was telling us loudly that it wasn't.

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

This is the NFL putting their fingers in their ears, shouting LALALALLALALALALA loudly, and hoping this whole thing will go away.Also, the replacement refs have already lost control. Even if the calls improve next week, the control situation will continue to deteriorate. The replacement refs have completely lost the players and coaches.

I thought you were leaving...

 

[mad sweeney]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

Again, they got screwed over on that call at the end of the game but were the beneficiaries of several bad calls during the game. Not seeing them complain too much about those. Both teams got screwed, Seattle was the beneficiary of the final screw. Neither team would've "deserved" to win this one based on how the refs botched it.

It was the only penalty they commented on, I'm not sure what the NFL's take would be on all those other calls.

Well, that's why they can't go changing the outcome of a game because of the last in a slew of controversial calls.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

Again, they got screwed over on that call at the end of the game but were the beneficiaries of several bad calls during the game. Not seeing them complain too much about those. Both teams got screwed, Seattle was the beneficiary of the final screw. Neither team would've "deserved" to win this one based on how the refs botched it.

This is hardly a defense of the NFL's "decision" - it just calls out the integrity of the *entire* Hawks/Pack game not to mention several others already this year. The final call was merely the nadir of what was overall a referee performance that disgraced the entire league.

 

[fatness]

Yeah. There is pretty much zero excuse for getting it wrong now. The replay was pretty obvious. I really don't understand how anyone could get it wrong looking at the replay, much less a referee.

I think the NFL is just backing up the referee. They don't really have any other option at this point. They are getting pretty close to losing control.

This.

 

[Reepicheep]

The NFL admitted to everything that wasn't reviewable such as the OPI. But didn't dare admit to anything that could have been overturned by replay. That would have opened a whole different can of worms with everybody looking for the game outcome to be changed.

This was a really badly blown call, but bad calls do happen. Has a game outcome ever been changed after the fact? Was anyone considering that a possible outcome to this mess?

At the tail end of the Mike and Mike show this morning, they quoted a Rule 17 that gives the commish the power to overturn a call and give the game to GB. If you notice, the last line of the NFL's memo says that the call will stand. That leads me to believe that one of the possibilities that existed, however remote, was that the NFL could have given the game to GB. That's why the statement supports the refs even though they were wrong in the majority of people's opinions.

They couldn't do it in a game of so many bad calls. If it were a decently reffed game without any drive killing/extending bad calls and this one was the only controversial one, then I wouldn't actually have much of a problem with it. As poorly as those guys reffed that game, for both sides, that would be completely absurd of them to correct one call just because it was the last one of the game.

I like you reeps, my Packer fan denial comments exclude you. You've been downright reasonable and I think I've given you a few of those GPs as well. Sucks for me to not be able to be proud of a win and rub it in the face of my cheesehead friends.

I hear you. My view is the refs robbed both teams of the opportunity to truly settle it on the field. Sure, you can always say "Just outplay the other team to the point that the bad calls don't matter", but that's not helpful when you have two teams that are playing a well-matched, low scoring game. The irony is before the game, ESPN did this cool intro thing with shots of both teams highlight plays, and a narrator saying something like "When the game starts, the speculation ends, and we find out who's for real". But that didn't happen. It's a shame really. Fans and players of both teams left with a bad taste in their mouth, and what little respect and spectre of control the replacement refs still had with coaches and players is now completely gone. I really believe next week will be total chaos, even if the calls aren't as egregious.

 

[mad sweeney]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

Again, they got screwed over on that call at the end of the game but were the beneficiaries of several bad calls during the game. Not seeing them complain too much about those. Both teams got screwed, Seattle was the beneficiary of the final screw. Neither team would've "deserved" to win this one based on how the refs botched it.

This is hardly a defense of the NFL's "decision" - it just calls out the integrity of the *entire* Hawks/Pack game not to mention several others already this year. The final call was merely the nadir of what was overall a referee performance that disgraced the entire league.

I'm not defending their decision. This is all in regards to calling Tate's uncalled PI and the idea that the league would nullify a play because of a blatant foul that went uncalled just because it was the last play of the game and affected the outcome directly.

 

[BuffaloWings]

Do we really want to open the pandora's box of the commissioner's office overturning NFL games? I can think of a multitude of bad calls over this past weekend that had a huge impact on a game -- heck, many of them were in the GB/SEA game before this debacle.

Bottom line -- get the regular refs out on the field. And do it right soon! Oh yeah, and allow the replay booth to review possession ownership too.

 

[smarchit]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

I tend to believe that the final calls in both the SNF debatable FG and the MNF TD/INT were both ultimately decided by home field. The replacements are already under great scrutiny, and in many cases, in over their heads. Whether consciously or not, it wouldn't surprise me to think that in the event of a close game deciding call, survival instinct tells you to rule in favor of the 60,000 + screaming fans that are surrounding you. Perhaps I've watched too many conspiracy movies, but I can see this being a strong possibility from a psychological standpoint. With the exact same ref crews and same circumstances, I could easily see the outcome of both game enders being interpreted differently had the venues been reversed.

 

[Reepicheep]

I thought you were leaving...

My exact words were that I wasn't watching anymore NFL games until the real refs are back. Sorry to put a damper on what has clearly been a delightful evening and morning for you.

 

[mad sweeney]

But they admitted the officials missed the pass interference call that would have ended to game right there. Road team was still screwed over according to the NFL.

I tend to believe that the final calls in both the SNF debatable FG and the MNF TD/INT were both ultimately decided by home field. The replacements are already under great scrutiny, and in many cases, in over their heads. Whether consciously or not, it wouldn't surprise me to think that in the event of a close game deciding call, survival instinct tells you to rule in favor of the 60,000 + screaming fans that are surrounding you. Perhaps I've watched too many conspiracy movies, but I can see this being a strong possibility from a psychological standpoint. With the exact same ref crews and same circumstances, I could easily see the outcome of both game enders being interpreted differently had the venues been reversed.

The FG wasn't debateable unless you're a NE fan or Ravens hater. Clearly a FG, even allowing for the parallax view of the camera angles.