Steelers vs. Patriots** game thread

Un-fucking-real. I can't believe we didn't win this game and we have to wait until "next time" again. James is usually so sure handed. I wish he had just held it and there would be no doubt. The game was right there...it was right in his hands. Unbelievable.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but I think the ruling was correct based on the rules. From Mike Pereira, former VP of officiating ..

Look, here is the rule. If you’re going to the ground you have to hold onto the ball when the ball hits the ground…Going to the ground trumps lunging/reaching to try and get extra yards or score a TD. You do that at your own risk. It’s incomplete…just ask Dez

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017

May well be right but that rule needs to be changed. And I hate to be that guy but if that was Gronk, they would have given it to him.

I don't disagree that bad calls are made. But based on the rule, which I hate, it was an incomplete catch. If we're going to be pissed at someone, we should be pissed at Haley for going conservative and literally handing the ball to Brady for a game-winning drive. On first down, I said to my son, "Well, here comes the 3 and out."

We freaking had them, even without AB. Next time will be a diff story

Wallace108 wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but I think the ruling was correct based on the rules. From Mike Pereira, former VP of officiating ..

Look, here is the rule. If you’re going to the ground you have to hold onto the ball when the ball hits the ground…Going to the ground trumps lunging/reaching to try and get extra yards or score a TD. You do that at your own risk. It’s incomplete…just ask Dez

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017

May well be right but that rule needs to be changed. And I hate to be that guy but if that was Gronk, they would have given it to him.

I don't disagree that bad calls are made. But based on the rule, which I hate, it was an incomplete catch. If we're going to be pissed at someone, we should be pissed at Haley for going conservative and literally handing the ball to Brady for a game-winning drive. On first down, I said to my son, "Well, here comes the 3 and out."

Yeah should have been more aggressive that penultimate drive. That said, I'm encouraged by the heart the team played with. We were missing two vital pieces and still very nearly won. I really think we can get them next time even if that next game is in NE. And if that is the case, that will make victory all the more sweeter since they beat us twice to the SB on our turf

I honestly think against any other team, I'd be upset but I wouldn't be pissed. It's just that it's always NE benefiting. I really want their fan base to suffer worse than the Browns one has. I want it to be in 50 years that people will forget the Patriots* were even good.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but I think the ruling was correct based on the rules. From Mike Pereira, former VP of officiating ..

Look, here is the rule. If you’re going to the ground you have to hold onto the ball when the ball hits the ground…Going to the ground trumps lunging/reaching to try and get extra yards or score a TD. You do that at your own risk. It’s incomplete…just ask Dez

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017

May well be right but that rule needs to be changed. And I hate to be that guy but if that was Gronk, they would have given it to him.

I don't disagree that bad calls are made. But based on the rule, which I hate, it was an incomplete catch. If we're going to be pissed at someone, we should be pissed at Haley for going conservative and literally handing the ball to Brady for a game-winning drive. On first down, I said to my son, "Well, here comes the 3 and out."

Yeah should have been more aggressive that penultimate drive. That said, I'm encouraged by the heart the team played with. We were missing two vital pieces and still very nearly won. I really think we can get them next time even if that next game is in NE. And if that is the case, that will make victory all the more sweeter since they beat us twice to the SB on our turf

Amen!

Here's another interesting take, but I still blame Haley more than the refs ...

I have yet to see an angle that shows the ball conclusively hitting the ground out of James control. He clearly still has one hand under it the whole way. There would need to be clear evidence to overturn. I haven't seen that. https://t.co/MmcwSMg67W

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 18, 2017

Wallace108 wrote:

BnGcanuck wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

Catches the ball, possesses it, breaks the plane. That's a motherfucking touchdown. They just gave the Patsies a fucking win. Just gift wrapped it and gave it to them.

This is what confuses me, he broke the plane. Not sure how that works. Kind of has that troy interception call back in 06 feel to it. That hurt but we still have the playoffs to look forward to. Go Steelers.

Explanation from Periera ...

People are saying a runner breaking the plane causes the ball to become dead…which is true. BUT the receiver does not become a runner until he completes the process of the catch. TOTALLY DIFFERENT

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017

I guess Mr. James is feeling pretty bummed about that. Thank you Wallace for clearing that up.

Anyhow it's all good guys. They're beatable and if there's a next time, they'll have to deal with AB too. AB, Schuster, and Bryant and Bell and James? Yeah that could be tough for them. And we'll have Haden back too. I've never wanted to beat them so badly.

Catch and touchdown period. They can try and cite their BS rules all they want. He caught the ball, possessed it, and made a football move by extending it across the plane. Not to mention there is absolutely nothing I've seen so far that proves without a doubt that ball did in fact touch the ground.

We got robbed.

Wallace108 wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

I hate to be the turd in the punch bowl, but I think the ruling was correct based on the rules. From Mike Pereira, former VP of officiating ..

Look, here is the rule. If you’re going to the ground you have to hold onto the ball when the ball hits the ground…Going to the ground trumps lunging/reaching to try and get extra yards or score a TD. You do that at your own risk. It’s incomplete…just ask Dez

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) December 18, 2017

May well be right but that rule needs to be changed. And I hate to be that guy but if that was Gronk, they would have given it to him.

I don't disagree that bad calls are made. But based on the rule, which I hate, it was an incomplete catch. If we're going to be pissed at someone, we should be pissed at Haley for going conservative and literally handing the ball to Brady for a game-winning drive. On first down, I said to my son, "Well, here comes the 3 and out."

I was thinking the same thing. Better playing calling at the end needed to be made.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

Catch and touchdown period. They can try and cite their BS rules all they want. He caught the ball, possessed it, and made a football move by extending it across the plane. Not to mention there is absolutely nothing I've seen so far that proves without a doubt that ball did in fact touch the ground.

We got robbed.

Exactly.

What happened after the robbery doesn't matter because we had already won the game until the officials decided they didn't like that outcome.

I wouldn't hold my breath on AB...not seeing good news. Per Twitter: torn calf muscle. Is expected to be done for season and postseason. May come back for a very late playoff or SB game, if he comes back.

YEah there were a lot of questionable calls towards the end that benefited the Pats*. Did the Pats* even haev one penalty called against them the whole game? I'm sorry but I don't buy for a second that they're that much more disciplined. Something stinks big time with the Pats* and I've found that way for a long time.

I'm not happy with the ref calls, but that's part of playing against the Patriots*.

Having said that, James shouldn't have folded like a cheap tent, on the 1, with no contact. He should have tap danced into the endzone. He goes down too easily.

Also, was anyone fooled by Ben's fake spike? He played a great game to that point, but that fake spike should have been throw into the 10th row of the stands when it was apparent no one was fooled on the play (and Rogers was well covered).

Oh well, time for them to buck up and ensure they still get a bye. And maybe another team will go to Foxboro and beat the Pats*.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

Catch and touchdown period. They can try and cite their BS rules all they want. He caught the ball, possessed it, and made a football move by extending it across the plane. Not to mention there is absolutely nothing I've seen so far that proves without a doubt that ball did in fact touch the ground.

We got robbed.

That’s the way I see it. It was a catch as he showed control moving toward the goal line then he broke the plane of the goal, when he landed the ground caused the ball to move in his hands - that’s it. It’s a bs call to me and in any case replay should’ve never overturned it, clearly, clearly not enough to overturn it. They should’ve let it stand. Worst call against the Steelers that I can remember.

Steeler-in-west wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

Catch and touchdown period. They can try and cite their BS rules all they want. He caught the ball, possessed it, and made a football move by extending it across the plane. Not to mention there is absolutely nothing I've seen so far that proves without a doubt that ball did in fact touch the ground.

We got robbed.

That’s the way I see it. It was a catch as he showed control moving toward the goal line then he broke the plane of the goal, when he landed the ground caused the ball to move in his hands - that’s it. It’s a bs call to me and in any case replay should’ve never overturned it, clearly, clearly not enough to overturn it. They should’ve let it stand. Worst call against the Steelers that I can remember.

That's why the rule is so stupid. It punishes guys for stretching in key situations like that. The league should be ashamed of themselves. I just hope we play these guys again. I want revenge and I'd love it if we hit Brady so hard during that game he decides to hang them up afterwards.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

That's why the rule is so stupid. It punishes guys for stretching in key situations like that.

I agree. I hate the rule. But it is what it is.

When a receiver goes to the ground, he has to maintain control of the ball through the entire process of the catch, including making contact with the ground. James clearly did not. As for crossing the plane. That applies only to runners, and not pass plays. That's why James crossing the plane is irrelevant. The only thing that should be an issue is whether the ball ever hit the ground. And I'm willing to bet two people can look at the play and see two different things. I'm honestly not sure until I see some screen grabs. But at the end of the day, the ref thought it hit the ground.

Hate to say it but James didn't complete the catch all the way down to the ground. According to the rules that's incomplete. Had he made a football move prior to that it'd be a different story

I just saw a good replay, and the ball clearly hit the ground, so there's no dispute there.

Dean Blandino explains why the officials got it right on controversial Patriots*-Steelers call
Video: https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/video/1118603331658?amp=true&__twitter_impression=true

Ben Roethlisberger says there was a difference of opinion on #Steelers final play. "It wasn't a fake spike. I was yelling 'clock it' b/c I felt that was the thing to do, to clock it and get yourself one play. And it came from the sideline: 'Don't clock it, don't clock it.'"

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 18, 2017

Oh well. I think it’s jyst more motivation to beat them in the playoffs. They didn’t get this team at its best and I’m confident come January we’ll see that. I just hate losing to them over a stupid rule. That team always gets the breaks and I want them to be humbled big time with an ass kicking on their home turf in front of their asshole fans.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

The only small silver lining I see is we're going to be motivated for revenge the next time we play them but we have to get there first and we'll likely be playing on their turf. You just hate to lose a game like that. I honestly haven't felt that sick in a long time.

We didn't lose. We outplayed them and the game was stolen from us. What I thought of afterwards was this: after the reversal why didn't Tomlin send Bos in kick a field goal. At least we would have had OT.

solardave wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

The only small silver lining I see is we're going to be motivated for revenge the next time we play them but we have to get there first and we'll likely be playing on their turf. You just hate to lose a game like that. I honestly haven't felt that sick in a long time.

We didn't lose. We outplayed them and the game was stolen from us. What I thought of afterwards was this: after the reversal why didn't Tomlin send Bos in kick a field goal. At least we would have had OT.

It was only 2nd down with 28 seconds left, plenty of time for multiple plays. Ben (who had a great game) just made a bad call on 3rd down.

I'm finally calm now but I was really pissed after the game. I wanted to smash something just after the game (I didn't) and it's been a very long time since I've felt that way...

Some observations:

1. It was great to see Shazier back, didn't expect him to see at the game.
2. We played a great game, even without AB.
3. It was awesome to finally see man coverage.
4. Juju was great and Bryant played his best game of the season.
5. Hilton is a joy to watch.
6. The call was correct, but that rule sucks. It's beyond me that when a runner breaks the plane and fumbles the ball at the goalline he gets a TD and a receiver who breaks the plane and loses control off the football afterwards doesn't.
7. At 24-16 Villanueva's back to back penalties were the first game changer.
8. At 24-19 Haley was way too conservative on first down.
9. I can live with Sean Davis being torched by Gronkowski (that's what great players do) on the final drive and the 2 pt conversion, but he had to make that interception just before the 2 minute warning.
10. After James broke the plane he needed to bring the ball back to his body to secure the ball.