Posted on 02/06/2006 6:34:20 AM PST by bikepacker67
I didn't watch the game, so I'm in no position to dispute you assessment. However, my experience says that officiating always has bad calls, but while some teams are able to capitalize on a bad call, others are not. But the calls themselves tend to balance out. We remember the bad calls that are significant in the outcome of the game, but forget the others. < / psych-sports analysis >
No, but he's the biggest whiner about it.
Just about a perfect analysis of one of the worst nights in professional football. I'll never watch again. Who knows? The Steelers might have won fair and square -- but they didn't.
Both teams sucked and it was a boring game. I watched HGTV through most of the game, with a quick glance at the score.
13 days,4 hours and 40 minutes 'til the green flag drops.
Bad officiating, absolutely. But let's assume that (as it should have) Darrell Jackson's touchdown was allowed.
Then the whole game would have been different. Pittsburgh calls different plays than they otherwise would have, and those other controversial calls probably would never happen. So you can't say that the referees gave the game to the Steelers. But they sure made it much harder for Seattle to win the game, although Holmgren's horrible clock management probably in the end had more to do with that.
But the NFL has a big problem, perception-wise, and Tagliabue needs to address it.
Oh please. The pass interference call that nullified the Seahawks TD may not have been a call that *I* would make, but Darrell Jackson DID push off from the defender. By the book, that IS a penalty. Big Ben also clearly scored. The penalty on Hasselbeck was a bad call, but hardly game changing. The interception itself was the game breaker. Adding 15 yards at the end was incidental.
Good teams overcome bad officiating (ie. Steelers over Colts)
Oh well, it is just a game. Congrats to Steelers for their victory. On to next year, the draft, the new season.
Just remember Steelers fans, you got a big target on your team now. ;->
"..made for an exciting finish, though."
So did the bad calls in the AFC Championship. That's why I wonder about it being fixed. Not for gambling purposes, but due to pressure from the network to keep viewers in their seats.
Ok, I'll take of my tin foil hat...
It was obvious the sentiment was totally STeeler. These calls were atrocious and no amount of sugar coating can change that. Bad game ridiculous officiating. Don't know if the Seahawks could have won the game no matter but handling Ben that td was a joke and stealing the one from Seattle a killer. The penalty on Hasselbeck was beyond ridiculous.
I disagree. I immediately thought that the Seattle touchdown catch was offensive interference, and I thought the instant replay confirmed that. I also though that Rauchenberger (sp?) got the nose of the ball over the front of the goal line. I thought the refs had a good game.
I only watched about a dozen plays of the whole game and had no interest in who won. But in those dozen plays I saw two very questionalble calls in the Steelers' favor, including a holding call which brought back a pass play near the goal line and wiped out a probable touchdown. NFL refs are where NBA refs were two years ago--they better start paying attention and make some changes like the NBA did.
"I watched HGTV through most of the game, with a quick glance at the score."
What? No Puppy Bowl? :)
Whitlock used to be one of the best up and coming writers in sports journalism, but I think he has lost his touch.
There is no question...he did NOT cross the goal line. And the pass interference call was despicable. But the worst call of the game was the hold against against Seattle when they had driven to the 1-yd line. Madden even said "I don't see a hold". That call effectively ended the game. I am a Giants fan, so I couldn't care less. Pitt probably would have won anyway. But these awful calls really detracted from the game, and many writers have complained about the wussy penalties this season. The NFL needs to keep a leash on these AARP refs. They can really spoil a good game. They certainly made the first half a dull mess.
The Steelers won. So did Bush. Seattle (and the rest of the Peoples Republic of Washington State) needs to get over it.
The Superbowl was the only football game I've watched this season. I quit football years ago and baseball and basketball.
It is artificially hyped, the commentators are 'fluffers', the players have no team loyalty, the teams have no player loyalty and the owners have no city/fan loyalty.
It is all about getting $ from the fan$.
"I was rooting for the Steelers but the Seahawks were robbed."
I agree. I was also rooting for the Steelers, but a series of bad calls kept Seatle from recovering from its many mistakes and regaining some momentum. I walked away feeling that the game was rigged, even though my team won.
I agree. The chop-block call on Hasslebeck was a joke. The Jackson TD called back was extremely questionable. Seatle also had three or four very picky holding calls that helped kill drives. I thought Ben might have cracked the goal line during his leap. That call was too close and I would not have faulted the official for calling it either way. He landed short, but perhaps broke the plane earlier.
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