Point-Spread Controversy

[.GR]

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The first 11-10 game in NFL history shouldn't have ended that way, referee Scott Green said after a last-minute touchdown was errantly taken away from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The officiating mistake didn't affect the outcome since the Steelers still would have won, but the touchdown would have changed the score to 17-10 - or, more likely, 18-10, since the teams were lined up for an extra-point try that was never attempted.

The call affected betting on the game since the Steelers were 5-point favorites and would have covered if the touchdown counted.

On first-and-10 from San Diego's 21 with 5 seconds remaining, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw a short pass to LaDainian Tomlinson over the middle for 3 yards. Tomlinson turned and made a handoff-type lateral to wide receiver Chris Chambers, who attempted to pitch the ball to a teammate only to have safety Troy Polamalu scoop it up and score from the 12.

Both teams left the field on what looked to be a game-ending play, but were called back by the officials for the extra-point attempt. At that point, the replay official called for a review.

After watching the play, Green initially announced the ruling on the field was upheld and the touchdown counted. But the officiating crew huddled again before the extra-point attempt and changed the call, deciding that an illegal forward pass should have ended the play.

Green, in a postgame interview with a pool reporter, said that call was errant - even though his explanation for the confusion was almost as confusing as the play itself.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," Green said. "It was misinterpreted that instead of killing the play, we should have let the play go through."

Green said the confusion occurred because there was a misunderstanding about which lateral was in question.

"The first pass was the one that was illegal, but it only kills the play if it hits the ground," Green said. "That was incorrect to have killed it at that point. The ruling should have let the play go on. That's just the way that it played out. We believe the second pass was legal."

Green was asked why, since the ball didn't hit the ground during any of the tossing, the officials decided after huddling that the play should have ended.

"We didn't kill it on the field," Green said. "After (the) discussion we decided ... there was some confusion over which pass we were talking about and it was decided that it was the second pass that was illegal that did hit the ground and therefore we killed the play there."

However, the officials realized afterward they erred.

"I know," Green said. "The rule was misinterpreted."

Asked about the officiating - the Steelers drew 115 yards in penalties to the Chargers' 5 - Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin declined to comment.

"No, I have never seen a game ended with 13-to-1 in penalties, but I am not answering questions about the officiating," Tomlin said.

 

[Sabbath]

:vomit:

 

[.GR]

I posted this just for you Sabbath.

 

[A.E]

This was just one of those things where the game was already over and decided...everybody wanted to get the hell off the field and call it a day.

If it was any other scenario, I am sure the Ref's would have taken their time and actually discussed the call.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

I think they originally thought it was a girl running the football with all that hair, they called it illegal because they didn't have her on their roster sheet.

 

[.GR]

I think they originally thought it was a girl running the football with all that hair, they called it illegal because they didn't have her on their roster sheet.

You guys got one too, name's Carson Palmer. Needs to grow a pair and deal with being a football player.

 

[Lake Louise]

You guys got one too, name's Carson Palmer. Needs to grow a pair and deal with being a football player.

I would`ve said Peko, although, he more looks like a lion than anything else.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

You guys got one too, name's Carson Palmer. Needs to grow a pair and deal with being a football player.

Last I knew Carson Palmer didn't have hair down to his back. I must have really missed something. As far as not playing due to injuries WHY PLAY HIM AND HAVE A CHANCE OF ENDING HIS CAREER? IT'S NOT WORTH IT. WE ARE 1-8-1. WITH 80% OF THE O-LINE INJURED.

It's not his fault this all started back years ago when the Steelers wen't low on him.

He came back quicker from his injury than what most people thought and some were uncertain if he'd ever get to even play another game in the NFL again.