Not true. Even if that 1 single call for a touchdown were allowed and all else was the same, Steelers still would have won by 4.
I think it was a pretty good call in the end zone, though tight. The receiver looked like he was deliberately pushing back/off of the defender.
And as far as better team? Neither played that greatly last nite, and maybe Seattle did play better, strictly speaking. But overall thru the season I wouldn't say so - not w/the same line-up of players. So I have no problem w/Steelers winning. (Call me biased - my husband's a rabid fan; but then, I'm only new to this whole wife thing. ;-D)
But the Seahawks did well and should be proud they've made it this far, finally.
Actually, the non-holding holding penalty on the pass to the 2 yard line was worse. The "blocking below the waist" intercepion tackle was part of the blown holding call's aftermath, and Pittsburgh was only up 4 at that point.
The calls - all of the 5 big ones - changed the complexion of the game. The Roethlesberger (sp?) TD wasn't overturned because there wasn't enough evidence on tape, IMO. The line judge's reactions were not considered (he was running in to spot the ball, then signalled TD after big Ben moved it).
The end zone interference call was ticky-tack, and counter to most of the rest of the game's methodology. Inconsistent.
The holding penalty (that wasn't) speaks for itself. Instead of 1st and goal on the 2, it's second (I think) and 20.
The Hasselback tackling below the waist penalty was beyond ridiculous, and certainly made the game-clinching TD easier (although there is nothing but conjecture regarding the Steelers' ability to head down the field at that point). But - because of the previous phantom holding call - that pass should never have been thrown.
The Hasselback fumble was handled correctly, IMO. The ruling on the field was overturned because of incontrovertible evidence.
Lastly, I am a Jets fan. I have been since Richard Todd was their quarterback. I wish the big game this year had been super, though. I hate to see the stripes affect the outcome of a game so heavily - and with such HUGE swings of momentum - as we did yesterday.
In this big game, everyone loses.