Unfortunately, there are quite a few players around the league who have been soundly beaten by the Steelers the last few years (best record in the NFL since 1992, 15-1 last year, 8 game winning streak this year) and I have noticed a few Steelers opponents are among the players eagerly piling on the idea that the officials handed Pittsbugh the game. It no doubt makes them feel a little better to be able to get a dig in.
That being said I think the rules ignorant public is easily led and influenced by the opinions expressed by the guys calling the game in the TV booth. And Madden (who has made it abundantly clear he still resents the Steelers because of call back in 1972) was falling all over himself to make sure that he left the impression the ‘Hawks were being screwed. Combine that with the Steeler haters back in studio (e.g. Steve Young - who was jealously hoping that the Steelers would not tie the 49er’s 5 SB wins) mischaracterizing what was happening at halftime and the gullible general public was subtly duped into feeling sorry for Seattle.
There were a lot of close calls by the officials in the game but I would point out that it could scarcely be argued that officials were largely responsible for:
a) Jerramy Stevens to drop 3 critical passes. One drop would have been a 20-yard completion to the Steelers' 27 on a third down early in the second quarter when Stevens had gotten behind a safety. Another would have been a 29-yard completion to the Steelers' 8 on the first possession of the third quarter. He dropped another one with four minutes left in the third quarter.
b) Hasselbeck to force a pass - Hasselbeck didn't spot cornerback Ike Taylor on a throw to Jackson. Taylor made the interception, thwarting the scoring opportunity and preserving the Steelers' lead.
c) Seahawks to convert only 5 of 17 3rd down conversions (30%) and only 1 of their last 5 in crunchtime.
d) Kicker Josh Brown to miss two long field goals -- for 54 and 50 yards.
e) Darrell Jackson to run poor routes catching two balls out of bounds in the final minute of the first half, one that could have been a touchdown and another that would have put the ball inside the 5 (yeah, the one inside the end zone was a close call but a crisp route and it would not have even been an issue).
f) Holmgren/Hasselbeck to mismanage the time clock so badly -- their clock management at the end of the half and the end of the game was sloppy to say the least.
g) Poor punting - Rouen failed repeatedly at every attempt to pin the Steelers deep in their own territory.
h) Allowing Ben Roethlisberger to improvise and complete a 37-yard pass to game MVP Hines Ward to the 1.
i) Seahawks giving up a 75-yard touchdown run to Willie Parker.
j) ‘Hawks getting beaten by a trick play on Antwaan Randle El's pass to fellow receiver Ward for a touchdown.
k) Seattle's failure to pick-up the Steelers blitz on a critical 3rd down play in the 4th quarter allowing Townsend a clean shot at Hasselbeck. The resulting sack forced a Seahawk put and effectively that was the end of the game.
Now as to the officiating there were no obvious slam-dunk, flat-out incorrect calls (e.g. misinterpretation of the rules like Polamalu’s interception reversal). Just because John Madden doesn’t “see holding” doesn’t mean there wasn’t. There will be no apology to the Seahawk’s forthcoming from the NFL! And in fact they have - just an hour or so ago - come out in defense of their officials.
The superior teams can overcome this kind of routine stuff. Against the Colt’s, the Steelers still found a way to win despite being denied a game-closing interception. Prime example from SB XL: Steelers have a first and 10 at the Seattle 22. 1st down incomplete pass. 2nd down 5 yard completion – OMG! a phantom pass interference call on Heath Miller. Did you see the pass interference? I didn’t. If Madden and Co. had beefed about it the public would have bought it hook line and sinker. 2nd down (repeat) Wistrom sacks Roethlisberger bringing up 3-28 at the SEA 40. Out of field goal range. Adversity. Did they fold like Seattle? No. Instead a great play results in 1st and goal.
In the AFC Championship game Bettis hit a great 10-yard TD Run which was called back on an obscure Hines Ward illegal formation penalty. Did the Steelers fold like a cheap suit? No. They came back and scored another TD with a pass to Hines Ward!
The illegal block below the waist called on Hasselbeck – the identical call was made against Jeff Hartings (Steelers center) in the Indianapolis game during the regular season when he blew up an interception return. It was identical in all respects – stupid rule perhaps, but no one can argue there isn’t consistent application of the rule.
The officials missed a flagrant illegal block in the back against Ben Roethlisberger during Herndon interception return. They blew a very quick whistle twice when Seattle receivers fumbled after the catch – one of which appeared to me an obvious catch and fumble. Of course, since Madden and Co. didn’t notice (or didn’t say anything about it) no one felt aggrieved.
My point in saying all this is that the preponderance of the calls went the Steelers way in SB XL. Were they a factor in Seattle’s demise? Yes. Were they the deciding factor? No. And the ill advised attention to the officiating is being pushed by people with hidden motives and axes to grind.
Excellent. I dare a any Seahawk fans to line by line deny these truths!