The refs blew the entire process by allowing the ball to be snapped, which it is stated very clearly that once a play has been run, the previous play cannot be reviewed. The ref hurredly spotted the ball to be snapped, and Couch spiked it.
End of story. No review was to be allowed. This ex post facto review decision is why the crowd (rightfully so in my opinion) went ballistic. They knew the rules. Couch knew the rule, which is why he quickly snapped the ball!
Yes, the 4th down pass was incomplete. The correct call would have been to call that pass incomplete after that play was over, not the completion of the next play. The refs said that the pass was complete, and they blew that call to. No need to lie about it.
Like it or not, the home team normally gets the benefit of the doubt in sitations like these. Do you think there would have been a "buzz" if the play would have occurred in St. Louis? San Francisco? Oakland? Pittsburgh? Not on your life.
Technicalities happen. Just ask district attorneys who have to let suspects go because of Miranda or some other technicality. The refs should have done their job by making the correct call in the first place.
Then it wouldn't have been an issue.
And this is no "whine," but it is the pure unadulterated truth.
DAWG POUND FOR LIFE!