Did the refs lose the game for the seaweenies?

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:12 am

Nope not at all. I know this is going to be a big debate and Im going to lay out why they lost.

Ive seen thread after thread about why they lost and all of them point to officiating. When the Skins lost to Tampa I didn't blame the refs. I blamed the poor decision to run the ball 3 times in a row just to punt and give the ball to Tampa who were killing our defense most of the game.

This is my list as to why SEA lost the game.

Jackson should not have touched the defender in the endzone. He broke the rule and got fined when he DIDN'T even NEED TO TOUCH THE GUY. The PITT defender was already beat and was rolling back on his heels, Jackson didn't need to touch him at all. The fact that he did touch him gave the look that his push was the reason why the defender was rolling back. Jackson made a bonehead play directly infront of the official. Pushing off is not legal and he got fined for it no matter how light it was. Was it a BS call? It depends on who you were rooting for.

How many passes did the Seahawks TE drop?

How about the TD pass that was dropped after the pass interference flag? The ball was thrown perfect but the guy jumped too early and still got his hands on the ball and couldn't pull it down. The ball even fell on him and he wasn't looking to catch it.

How about the 3 bombs that were caught out of bounds? One would have been a TD?

How about all the dropped passes from the other players? Didn't Shaun drop one towards the end in the flats?

What about the poor time management? I counted about 20 seconds lost just by not having a good 2 minute offense. 20 seconds equals about 3 more plays that were wasted.

How many field goals were missed? Was it two or three?

My point is that SEA didn't capitalize on ANY of their chances. The refs made some questionable calls but what can you do about it? A better team would have overcome it. SEA didn't do enough to win a game they could have won easily. Since they didn't they lost and they deserved to.

Where was the O. MVP? He didn't break 100 yards! It wasn't his fault but the coach. That guy was running good but they hardly used him. Im so glad we have a smash mouth offense because that pass happy crap killed SEA.

A better team would have stepped up.

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:28 am

It's true that Seattle can't point to the refs and say call X or Y was a game-changer but the refs were, once again, awful. I was rooting for the Steelers but Rothwhatever did not cross the plane on that rushing TD. The league MUST do something to address this.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:33 am

Fios wrote:It's true that Seattle can't point to the refs and say call X or Y was a game-changer but the refs were, once again, awful. I was rooting for the Steelers but Rothwhatever did not cross the plane on that rushing TD. The league MUST do something to address this.

To be honest if it did cross the plan it was by centimeters. They slowed it down and they highlight where it seemed that it crossed. The ref must have felt the same and let the ruling stands. I agree that it was inconclusive and could have gone either way.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 8:49 am

My opinion on Ben's run: The ball *did* cross ever so slightly in the air but was clearly not crossing the line when he came down on the ground. It was much too close a call to overturn. If the refs call "no touchdown" on the field, that call probably would have stuck, too.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:39 am

Justice Hog wrote:My opinion on Ben's run: The ball *did* cross ever so slightly in the air but was clearly not crossing the line when he came down on the ground. It was much too close a call to overturn. If the refs call "no touchdown" on the field, that call probably would have stuck, too.

How soon we forget a similar play in Tampa. :shock:

To me, the initial call was WRONG! Forget the replay! The ref did not call it while in the air. He ran to Roth when he was ALREADY on he ground and he had hauled the ball from underneath him. THAT is when the ref saw it and called it a TD.

Was it in? Probably yes by a couple of inches while in the air, certainly not when he touched the ground, which was when the ref made the call. I would be steaming if that call had been made against US.

By the way, THIS was one of the WORST Superbowl games I have EVER watched. It had NOTHING in it. It was an inconsistent, poorly executed, boring and mediocre game all along.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:44 am

Justice Hog wrote:My opinion on Ben's run: The ball *did* cross ever so slightly in the air but was clearly not crossing the line when he came down on the ground. It was much too close a call to overturn. If the refs call "no touchdown" on the field, that call probably would have stuck, too.

That was probably one of the closest calls I've ever seen. A case can be said that it did cross the plain and a case can be made for it NOT crossing the plain.

Like you said, if it crossed, it BARELY crossed by the smallest of margins.

air_hog · Post by **air_hog** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:03 pm

See I don't think the ball crossed, but since the call on the field was a TD, there was pretty much a 0% chance of it being overturned.

And by the way, of course the Refs. lost the game for the Seahawks. Everytime thier offense scored or got into scoring range, the refs. screwed them over. I mean, I'm surpirsed the Steelers got 21 points, their offense was terrible last night. And if the refs. hadn't kept screwing over the Seacocks, then they could have easily put up more than 21 points.

But hopefully this will open up Tagliabues eyes so he will realize that the NFL has a massive Referee problem.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:09 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:

By the way, THIS was one of the WORST Superbowl games I have EVER watched. It had NOTHING in it. It was an inconsistent, poorly executed, boring and mediocre game all along.

I have to say, I agree with you RiC.

gay4pacman · Post by **gay4pacman** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:21 pm

Id take a mediocre win anyday!

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:28 pm

The Steelers don't deserve a superbowl, the refs handed them that game. Superbowl should be earned not given too.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:31 pm

John Manfreda wrote:The Steelers don't deserve a superbowl, the refs handed them that game. Superbowl should be earned not given too.

The Seahawks didn't earn it either so whats your point? Did you even bother to read my initial post?

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:29 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:
John Manfreda wrote:The Steelers don't deserve a superbowl, the refs handed them that game. Superbowl should be earned not given too.

The Seahawks didn't earn it either so whats your point? Did you even bother to read my initial post?

He feels he does not have to. He never reads the initial post (or several others after that) in other threads anyway. :shock:

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:40 pm

I'm a bit bewlidered here. Aside from the poor call on Hasselbeck for a block below the waist, I can't take issue with the other calls that people are griping about.

On the holding call, the tackle had his arm wrapped under the defenders arm, which will bring a flag every time, whether it impedes the defender's progress or not.

On the offensive pass interference call, you cannot place your hand on a defender with your arm bent, and then extend it while you move in the opposite directio, most especially right in fron of the ref. Anyone remember the Bears-Skins game?

Of course, I was drinking margaritas and eating quesadillas the whole game, so I may have missed some of the finer points of the game, but the refs seem to stay out of the way to me. Maybe I need to go back and watch it again (I love you TiVo).

sportzguy · Post by **sportzguy** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:42 pm

The calls were for Pittsburgh, and their fans were admitting it at the bar I went to. That holding call was huge when they had got it to the 3 yard line (14 point swing).The ball did not cross the goal line for Pittsburgh 1st touchdown. Two bad spots that cost a Seahawks touchdown....etc(all momentum killers). On the other hand, Seattle did not step up and overcome adversity like championship teams should. They made too many mistakes and didnt take advandage of opportunities. They played "not to lose" instead of playing to win, so I agree with you they didnt deserve to win. The Steelers played better.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:46 pm

I, like Joe, didn't think the calls they made were bad. Maybe a little chincy, but legitimate non the less.

I do however think that the Steelers got away with a few. I do think the QB sneak was a touchdown, but there was a hit on Jackson out of bounds, which the refs acknowledged because they ruled him out of bounds before he got pummeled which could have been called, and they did blow the Hasselbeck block below the knees call.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 2:00 pm

It was a lousy game by bothteams for the most part.

In keeping with many games throughout the entire season, I do not think the officiating was particularly good.

It is impossible to say whether one play could or could not have resulted for sure in a different outcome. It is all speculation. Of course the outcome could have been different but somehow neither team showed dominance over the other. In fact, if anything, the Seagals did not capitalise their dominance in the first half at all.

I do not have great respect for this last game but I respect both teams for the way they played TO GET THERE to the SB. Victories against us and Carolina, and against Colts and Broncos made both worthy finalists.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:13 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:
John Manfreda wrote:The Steelers don't deserve a superbowl, the refs handed them that game. Superbowl should be earned not given too.

The Seahawks didn't earn it either so whats your point? Did you even bother to read my initial post?

The Seahwaks owned them the first half of the game, the refs were easily biased. You can tell by the fight, when Seahawks guy started kicking the crap out of him the ref went nuts. If this was the Redskins you would be like that such BS, aka Mike Alstot.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:23 pm

Did you even play competitive sports before. Its a hell of a lot easier to win a game when the refs are on your side.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:41 pm

John Manfreda wrote:Did you even play competitive sports before. Its a hell of a lot easier to win a game when the refs are on your side.

which team missed two field goals?

which team allowed a 76 yard run?

which team had a player step out of bounds for a td?
they beat themselves.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Which team got 14 points called back on them which would have made the score 24-21. Maybe even more because of that bs punt return call.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:16 pm

So what? What could they do about it, nothing. Who dropped a TD pass in the endzone after the PI call? Seahawks.

They had their chances and didn't pull through so they deserved to lose. I dont care if they had 900 yards if you drop the ball in the endzone wut is it all for? Nothing.

thaiphoon · Post by **thaiphoon** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:37 pm

I'm a bit bewlidered here. Aside from the poor call on Hasselbeck for a block below the waist, I can't take issue with the other calls that people are griping about.

Agreed...and that call was just karma coming to bite Hasselback in the butt. Still that call was a poor call but I'll take it since I'm glad the Seahawks lost.

As for the holding penalties, I didn't really see any of these "phantom" holds. Someone needs to post those "phantom holds" on the site so we can all break them down.

I'm with CLL and the others. The Seahawks cannot blame the refs for stupid things like catching the ball out of bounds and throwing a crucial interception when your team is driving for a go-ahead score. The Seahawks can't blame the refs for allowing Ward to streak from left to right on a reverse-option play and Randal El hits him in stride. The Seahawks can't blame the refs for their inability to defend a pass to Ward to the 3 yd line when it was 3rd and 28. The Seahawks lost this game ladies and gentlemen and the Steelers made sure they did. The refs weren't perfect and they sure as hell weren't as bad as some say. The game was like most games for the officials. Bad calls, good calls and some that could go either way and some that were either reversed or upheld.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:27 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:So what? What could they do about it, nothing. Who dropped a TD pass in the endzone after the PI call? Seahawks.

They had their chances and didn't pull through so they deserved to lose. I dont care if they had 900 yards if you drop the ball in the endzone wut is it all for? Nothing.

I'll agree to disagree, I really don't care. But if this was the Redskins you would not be saying this, I am positive you would be pissed off.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:42 pm

I also have no real qualms with many of the plays that people are calling mistakes. It looked to me like the ball crossed the plane (just barely!) on the TD run. Remember, it only has to break the very front of that white line. Oh, and that was offensive pass interference.

Hasslebeck's below the knee block was probably the only flagrant bad call that I could see.

In no way did the ref's hand this game to the Steelers. The officiating looked worse than it actually was--and the media loves a controversy.

Would I be screaming bloody murder if the Skins had gotten those kinds of calls against them? Yeah, probably. That's because I'm not "objective" (whatever the hell that means--why have I seen that word thrown about the board so much recently?) when it comes to the Skins. I can understand Seattle fans being upset, but the game just wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 1:46 pm

FanfromAnnapolis wrote:I also have no real qualms with many of the plays that people are calling mistakes. It looked to me like the ball crossed the plane (just barely!) on the TD run. Remember, it only has to break the very front of that white line. Oh, and that was offensive pass interference.

Hasslebeck's below the knee block was probably the only flagrant bad call that I could see.

In no way did the ref's hand this game to the Steelers. The officiating looked worse than it actually was--and the media loves a controversy.

Would I be screaming bloody murder if the Skins had gotten those kinds of calls against them? Yeah, probably. That's because I'm not "objective" (whatever the hell that means--why have I seen that word thrown about the board so much recently?) when it comes to the Skins. I can understand Seattle fans being upset, but the game just wasn't as bad as people are making it out to be.

The controversey gives them more to write about than the game.

John Manfreda wrote:
Chris Luva Luva wrote:So what? What could they do about it, nothing. Who dropped a TD pass in the endzone after the PI call? Seahawks.

They had their chances and didn't pull through so they deserved to lose. I dont care if they had 900 yards if you drop the ball in the endzone wut is it all for? Nothing.

I'll agree to disagree, I really don't care. But if this was the Redskins you would not be saying this, I am positive you would be pissed off.

with me. I would be a bit more pissed but I wouldn't be mad at the refs. I understand what you're saying but if you go back and research my comments and feelings towards our 1st tampa game you'll see that I blamed that game squarely on the team and more specifically the play calling.