Enough with this whining and ill-fitting analogies. The refs did not "change the rules" in the middle of the game for the Steelers. Every call except for the ridiculous one against Hassleback for an "illegal block" when he was actually tackling the guy who intercepted his pass were all judgment calls.
I've seen the Ben Roethlesberger dive into the endzone at least 20 times now. It sure looks like the ball got over the plane of the goal line (it doesn't take much) before he hit the ground. It was called a TD on the field and there was definately not enough on the replay to say he definately didn't get in. Tough noogies, Seahawks. Besides, it was going to be 4th and goal at the 1-inch line if they did down it there. The Steelers had not failed in a 4th and 1 all season long. I think they could have punched it in.
The interference call against Darrell Jackson was close, but legitimate. Some apologists say Jackson's push had no affect on the play. Really? I see Chris Hope standing right next to Jackson. Then I see a push from Jackson, and then I see Hope moving off-balance the other way. Looks like a pretty good call to me. And the whiners also like to say that Hope pleaded for the call and the flag came late. Well, replays show that the ref was grabbing for the flag right as it was happening. His fingers missed the flag. He reached for it again. Another slip. Finally, he gets it and tosses it out. It was an early call with an accidentally late flag.
The holding call that wiped out a first and goal at the Steeler 3 for the Hawks? I dunno. When a defender (Clark Haagans) is beating you around the corner, you grab his shoulder pad and begin riding him to the ground to prevent a sack, that also might actually be holding.
Again, these were all judgment calls. And, yes, the Steelers were the beneficiaries. But, you know. Jerramy Stevens had a catch and a fumble in the second quarter (I think) that was called incomplete. I didn't whine about it during the game, even though I thought it was a bad call that could prove costly for my team.
Too bad Seahawks fans can't do the same.
That and the Chop block penalty were pretty clearly wrong. The two main ones that people are complaining about are silly.
That and the Chop block penalty were pretty clearly wrong. The two main ones that people are complaining about are silly.
At worst, they are within margin of error...not like when Pete Johnson put 3/4 of the football into the end zone (completely over the white line) and they called it a foot short.