Game's third team upstaged Steelers, Hawks

ESPN ^ | 2/6/06 | Michael Smith

[highlander_UW]

Spot on.

[Joe 6-pack]

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

He's about 50-50 in his gripes. He gives no evidence to back up his whine about the many holding calls - were they legit?

The "pushing off" penalty was a legit call, which many rightfully observed that such an offense rarely pulls a flag. But the official was reaching for his flag BEFORE the defender starting dancing for a call.

I agree that Hasselback's flag for blocking below the knees was wrong. But my wife and I also agree that Rothelsberger's TD was a good call, albeit close.

As someone else rightfully put it: great teams do not let the officials determine the outcome. Seattle had a couple questionable and one or two bad calls go against them. But they earned most of their flags and Pittsburgh earned the victory.

[biggerten]

You want some cheese with that whine?

[frogjerk]

Pittsburgh likes to run its trick plays in the middle of the field. Boom! Four plays later, from Seattle's 43, Randle El took a reverse and threw a sweet strike on the run to Ward. It was 21-10, and that was all she wrote

It was amazing how one of the Zebras actually put on a Pittsburgh uniform and snuck into the play to make that pass...-tinfoil

[dead]

There's close and questionable calls in every game, but there's not usually this much whining about it.

[Senator Goldwater]

Terrible job by the officating crew.

Taking away a TD over a push-off that didn't move the DB; calling a TD when the ball didn't break the plane; calling a hold on Locklear that negated a first and goal; and tacking on a call against the QB on the interception return.

The officials were horrendous. The NFL should jettison the entire crew. Inexcusable in a game of this magnitude.

[frogjerk]

Head linesman Mark Hittner didn't seem so sure of it, hesitating before signaling touchdown.

No, this has never happened before...A ref hesitating on a call...can you say conspiracy?... - tinfoil

[Tennessean4Bush]

I was rooting for neither team, just trying to enjoy the game. But the officiating was ridiculously biased. On two different plays, including the one where they had a pass completed to the one yard line, the defensive end was offside. Then the 15-yard penalty against Hasselback for tackling the runner was unforgivable.

[frogjerk]

There's close and questionable calls in every game, but there's not usually this much whining about it.

A lot of people must have bet the over and didn't think the Steelers would cover...

[tfecw]

Ref calling is a part of the game, it sucks, but that's all there is too it.

That said, I can't argue with this part,

""No one wanted us to win. They wanted Jerome Bettis to win and go out a hero, and they got it.""

Toss in Bill Cowher along with Jerome, and yeah i'd say that quote is spot on. Lot of ads with Big ben, Cowher, and Bettis holding the trophy. I think i noticed one with Hasselbeck holding it, but that's all i noticed for the Seattle bench. Heck, even Coors was rooting for the Steelers ;)

[Junior_G]

There's close and questionable calls in every game, but there's not usually this much whining about it.

If you think the officiating job yesterday was no better or worse than normal, you weren't paying attention.

[Moonman62]

The Steelers made three big plays on offense. They deserved to win.

[Joe 6-pack]

I still think the Seahawks could have won the game if they had only scored more points than the Steelers.

[matymac]

Pittsburgh got a few lucky breaks with calls that could have went either way. Pittsburgh played like crap and they certainly benefited from those calls.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Deny all you want chief, yes the Steelers won...but they won the worst officiated superbowl in the game's history. And were, heavily I met add, on the recieved end of beneficial calls.

Yep, the Steelers...lots to be proud of.

[frogjerk]

Terrible job by the officating crew.

Agreed. The no-call on the clip on Roethlisberger during the run back of the interception and the interception that was clearly a reception and a fumble by Seattle were screwups by the zebras as well...

[edcoil]

From everything I have heard and read, basically it is breaking down to 3 calls people either agreed with or dis-agreed with out of well over 100 calls.

No game with an 11 point spread comes down to three plays.

[Moonman62]

I agree that Hasselback's flag for blocking below the knees was wrong.

On the surface it looks that way, but I have a feeling that if the actual rule is looked up, it may be a good call.

[camle]

when your team loses, blame the officials, when your candidate loses blame the ballot boxes.

do I sense a theme here?