That said - Congrats to the Steelers and the BUS! You did what you had to to win.
I'll get to the calls in a minute, but in a nutshell - even with the horrible refs -- the game was decided because of three things.
1. Seattle did nothing but grind it out - other than the interception there were no big plays ZERO.
2. Pittsburgh made the big play when it had too, and there is no dispute on the 75 yard run or the reverse-Pass by Randle El. Again they made the plays they had to to win.
3. Seattle time management was abysmal. Period.
4. Seattle did not bow up and stop Pittsburgh when it was crunch time in the 4th Period. They let Pittsburgh get 3 crucial first downs and run the clock.
Now on to the calls:
1. Pass interference - Sorry as soon as Jackson's arm was fully extended the flag was coming out no matter how light the contact. It has been called that way all year no matter what the whiney little QB and WR say (Young/Irvin). If they are close in battling the refs let it go, as soon as the arm extends they call it whether it is there or not. People can cry all they want, it has been clled that way in every game.
2. All the whining in the world means nothing - Big Ben crossed the plane, and even if he didn't there was not enough visual evidence to overturn it. It looked to me like he just got in before being hit. Had they called him down at the one inch line, it would not have been overturned either. But let's be real, does anyone in the world think that Seattle would have stopped 4th and 1 inch.
3. Holding on pass to Stevens - Pitty Pat call, but the lineman did have him collared and technically it was a hold. I would not have called it however, it was not blatant nor did it effect the outcome of the play.
4. Hasslebeck cut -- That one was pure Bullsh*t. bad bad bad bad call.
5. Hasslebeck fumble - rightfully overturned.
Anyway, the Seattle fans can say the "wuz robbed" and whine all they want -- the bottom line is Pittsburgh made the big plays when they had the opportunity and Seattle did not; and Seattle left at least 6-14 points on the field with thier terrible 2 minute time management.
Good job, I said the game was decided because of 3 things and then listed 4. ROFL UGH
Agree 100%.
It was the biggest piece of Ka Ka that I have ever seen for a NFL championship game. Yawn!!! and I am an AFC fan. The level of play in the NFL was down this year. The Rose Bowl was a 100 times better.