NFL Playoffs are here!!

[SuperDuck]

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how 'bout THEM apples?

Everybody with two eyes and half a brain knew that was a catch. What was going through that guy's mind is waaay beyond me.

 

[Brad Barker]

Everybody with two eyes and half a brain knew that was a catch. What was going through that guy's mind is waaay beyond me.

yeah, really.


there are bad calls, and then there are calls that are SO bad that the nfl has to apologize for them! fortunately it didn't change the outcome of the game this time!

 

[Naveed Afzal]

You mean like the OBVIOUS interference non-call against Randle El where he would have had an easy sprint to the end zone???

Which ONE!?!?!

there was one down the rightsideline and one in the middle of the field...

lol @ joey porter... that guys doesnt stop.

 

[Eric Perry]

Which ONE!?!?!

there was one down the rightsideline and one in the middle of the field...

The one down the right sideline. I was livid on that.

 

[MJ5150]

...As I hop on said wagon. Hahaha. But hey, almost everyone and their brother, niece, nephew, roommate, F buddy and enemy picked the Colts though.

I make my picks realistically, not based on my fan status.

Ditka came out and picked the Steelers. I was the only one around here who picked the Steelers. So, that makes two. I'm driving this bandwagon though!! I have been all my life.

I will admit that my emotional ties to the Steelers get in the way of my good judgement at times. Then again, I can't think of a time when I chose Pittsburgh when it was totally stupid to do so. Have they ever been that big of underdogs? I honestly felt that Cowher, LeBeau, and Wisenhunt were ready for this game. I knew the players would be, especially after the butt whipping Manning put on the defense a few weeks ago. I felt confident earlier in the week when I picked them.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

fortunately it didn't change the outcome of the game this time!

Indeed. The Steelers had this game won before the first controversial call. Did some calls go Pittsburgh's way? It looked like it on that false start. Do I think the refs were looking out for the Steelers? No way. I think the line judge missed the flinch. It happens. It didn't affect the game one bit, so what's the big deal?

-Mike

 

[jkritchey]

Everybody with two eyes and half a brain knew that was a catch. What was going through that guy's mind is waaay beyond me.

The notion that this ref looked at that video for 5 minutes and OVERTURNED the call of his colleague on the field in that situation is mind boggling.

It brings the entire Review system into question. Think about it: You can't review the non call on the potential interference; you can't review who did what on the encroachment / false start fiasco; and after reviewing this, you screw the pooch anyway. I mean why bother?

 

[Kelly Lee]

I mean why bother?

Even with the obvious screw up Sunday I still like instant replay. I do think that the "non-calls" should be challengeable though.

 

[Naveed Afzal]

The one down the right sideline. I was livid on that.

Lol... i knew that... so was i... i was just being funny...

 

[jkritchey]

Even with the obvious screw up Sunday I still like instant replay. I do think that the "non-calls" should be challengeable though.

I don't. I prefer the POV that International soccer takes: Every rule states "In the Opinion of the Referee". And there's only one referee. Live with the humanity of the ref, like you live with the humanity of the players.

 

[Adam Barkley]

I don't. I prefer the POV that International soccer takes: Every rule states "In the Opinion of the Referee". And there's only one referee. Live with the humanity of the ref, like you live with the humanity of the players.

Yeah in soccer that might work. Open field full of smaller guys.

One referee in football wouldn't be able to see anything. After plays, linemen could block his view intentionally to get away with... just about anything.

The game works fine as is. The replay doesn't add that long to the games anyway.

 

[jkritchey]

Yeah in soccer that might work. Open field full of smaller guys.

One referee in football wouldn't be able to see anything. After plays, linemen could block his view intentionally to get away with... just about anything.

The game works fine as is. The replay doesn't add that long to the games anyway.

I'm not advocating one referee as much as the approach that the game is a sporting event, not a science.

And while I like watching my NFL team, I disagree that the game works fine. To me it's taken on the qualities of a TV reality show with a live audience. This is really evident when you go to a game in person, and it becomes clear that the stops and starts, the tempo, the replays, have all been molded to the TV audience.

Sorry, I'm ranting...

 

[page]

Indeed. The Steelers had this game won before the first controversial call. Did some calls go Pittsburgh's way? It looked like it on that false start. Do I think the refs were looking out for the Steelers? No way. I think the line judge missed the flinch. It happens. It didn't affect the game one bit, so what's the big deal?

-Mike

I figure I'll ask a logical Pittsburgh fan, what do you think of the AFCC game?


Im a little scared for the Broncos . I hope Jake Plummer doesn't start thinking he's Elway and can win the game in the fourth quarter alone. I also think that Denver's D will put up way more of a fight than Indy's did.

 

[SomecallmeTim]

Ditka came out and picked the Steelers. I was the only one around here who picked the Steelers. So, that makes two. I'm driving this bandwagon though!! I have been all my life.

-Mike

Come on now, Mike. Refer to my picks for the Divisional Round (Post #34.)

Upon reflection, canopener was with us too.

 

[Kelly Lee]

I think the line judge missed the flinch. It happens. It didn't affect the game one bit, so what's the big deal?

Well Mike, it did affect the game. Just how much we will never know.

If the call had been made it would have been 4th and 5 and more than likely Cower would have elected to punt then. The Colts would have had the ball at that point and that might have been enough for the Colts to pull out a victory. I'm not saying that would have happened, only that it could have.

You know I'm not making excuses for the Colts. They lost that game by being totally out played and I, and every other Colts' fan, knows it.

All I'm saying is that one call (even a small one) can have a huge impact on a game. That bad overturned INT call could have cost Pittsburgh the game had the Colts tied and then won in OT. Just one play, call, or non-call makes a difference.

Page, whats up? Did you lose confidence in your team or what?

Well, maybe you should be worried. If the Steelers get to Jake like they did Peyton, the Broncos lose. They better come up with protection schemes this week or I see a lot of sacks, INT's, and incompletions in the Broncos future.

.

 

[jkritchey]

Well Mike, it did affect the game. Just how much we will never know.

If the call had been made it would have been 4th and 5 and more than likely Cower would have elected to punt then.

.

They punted a few plays later.

 

[gamera]

Ditka came out and picked the Steelers. I was the only one around here who picked the Steelers. So, that makes two. I'm driving this bandwagon though!! I have been all my life.

I will admit that my emotional ties to the Steelers get in the way of my good judgement at times. Then again, I can't think of a time when I chose Pittsburgh when it was totally stupid to do so. Have they ever been that big of underdogs? I honestly felt that Cowher, LeBeau, and Wisenhunt were ready for this game. I knew the players would be, especially after the butt whipping Manning put on the defense a few weeks ago. I felt confident earlier in the week when I picked them.

-Mike

I would have picked the Steelers, but I didn't think the refs would let them win. I was almost right.

 

[WillPlay4Food]

Everybody with two eyes and half a brain knew that was a catch. What was going through that guy's mind is waaay beyond me.

This is what I think was going through the ref's head. Polamolu made the catch, then rolled on the ground. If an opposing team member had touched him then, Polamolu would've been down by contact. So, when Polamolu went to get up to continue running, his left knee knocked his ball out of his hand before his right knee made it off the ground.

Therefore, since Polamolu could've been downed by contact, the roll couldn't be considered a 'football move'. That's where I think the ref was coming from. If you can be downed by contact if an opposing team member touches you, can whatever you're doing at the time be considered a 'football move'? After all, in order for the INT to stand and not be labeled an incomplete pass, Polamolu had to have made a 'football move' after the catch and before he kneed the ball out of his own hands.

I'm still stoked that Pittsburgh won though. Guess Peyton & Eli can QB the choke bowl.

 

[MJ5150]

Well Mike, it did affect the game. Just how much we will never know.

I am of the opinion that the game was over when the Steelers went up 14-0. The Colts were a beaten and rattled team. You could see it in Mannings face, as well as the rest of the team. The Steeler defense settled in, and the offense went to work on the ground. No one was going to beat Pittsburgh. The only reason it got exciting was because of the Bettis fumble.

-Mike

 

[page]

Page, whats up? Did you lose confidence in your team or what?

Well, maybe you should be worried. If the Steelers get to Jake like they did Peyton, the Broncos lose. They better come up with protection schemes this week or I see a lot of sacks, INT's, and incompletions in the Broncos future.

.

Hell no! Broncos are gonna win, I was just curious as to by how much!

Seriously though, it'll be a tough game. I was looking forward to Denver vengence on a two year playoff loss to Indy, but I'll take the defeat of Pitts... John Lynch and Champ Bailey were born to take the ball from Big Ben and his bus!