Yeah Mike Tomlin is a gambler.
Of course that worked once or twice but anyone playing against the Steelers knows that they must take into account a fake spike can happen. The Patriots clearly did.
Of course the Pats were damn lucky again that they won, but they also won because of a really really bad decision by the Steelers.
I saw a brief replay of the Steeler’s disallowed TD. Anyone care to quote the rule and explain why it was disallowed please? Confused occasional watcher of American Football here.
Basically if you make a catch and fall to the ground shortly after, the ball cannot hit the ground to aid you in the catch, or get knocked loose. The confusion comes in when determining how shortly after the catch are you considered a runner, and hitting the ground with the ball is ok as in diving out for extra yardage. The rule is highly subjective, and quite frankly, very difficult to be consistent on. Look up the Dez Bryant vs Packers “Catch”. A real heart breaker and I believe what caused the rule to be put in place.
Here’s the nfl explanation. https://mobile.twitter.com/NFLFootballOps/status/942559627295764480/video/1
That’s a good video. To me it would seem that they would first decide whether it was a completion or not, and then second, make a determination of ball placement, fumble, TD, etc. The video that you linked was pretty clear showing that it was an incomplete pass. In other words, to be called a touchdown, he has to have possession of the ball. And if the pass isn’t completed yet, he still doesn’t have possession, even though he has crossed the goal line.
So the officials got it right then it seems. Would the call have been any different (complete pass) if it was in any other area of the field or was the fact it was crossing the goal line made it a special call?
The issue is, He made the catch, had clear control of the ball, and reached out over the goal line.
Boom, once the ball breaks the plane of the goal line, the play is over.
The Touchdown Rule Superceeds the “Catch and Bobble” rules.
Otherwise, they would be calling TD’s back if the Running back was pushed back out of the endzone after breaking the plane. or if they RB Fumbles when being hit after breaking the plane, or diving for the pylon and hitting the inside of the pylon as they fall out of bounds and drop the ball in the process.
In both of those instances, breaking the plane ends the play.
If Breaking the Plane of the Goal Line is enough to end those plays before possession of the ball is lost, then the TD Rule should also apply to catches made outside the endzone as players reach to break the plane.
he clearly had control, and reached/ dove for the endzone, the ball was under his control when he broke the plane,
@SkateZilla and I disagree, so rather than ask you to take my word for it, here is the NFL’s rulebook. With regards to the end zone: Item 3. End Zone Catches. The requirements for a catch in the end zone are the same as the requirements for a catch in the field of play.
The argument is not about an endzone catch, its the going to the ground rule, which the Steelers player clearly was.
Item 1. Player Going to the Ground. A player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a runner. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent), he must maintain control of the ball until after his initial contact with the ground, whether in the field of play or the end zone. If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground before he regains control, the pass is incomplete. If he regains control prior to the ball touching the ground, the pass is complete.
If you are going to the ground when making a catch, regardless of whether someone hits you or not, you have to maintain control of the ball through the process of going down. This play is explained pretty clearly in the rule book and in the video i posted, and honestly, the player should know that if I’m going to the ground, i have to secure the ball. I don’t agree with the rule (Cowboys fan here), but this case is pretty cut and dry. The Dez “Catch” is way worse.
What I’m saying is:
The TouchDown Rule is Above the Catch/Bobble/To the Ground Rules.
it wasn’t an ENDZONE Catch, it was a 1 yard line catch and player had control, and therefore, when player broke the plane of the goal line with control of the ball, the play is over, regardless.
If a Running player can dive for the pylon, drop the ball and have it rulled a touch down by rule of breaking the plane, then the same should be applied to receivers.
he didnt bobble it on the way to the ground, he was reaching forward, broke the plane, and then when the ball hit the ground first because the sides of the ball are wider than James Hands, it bobbled, by that point he was in the endzone, knee down, ball down. play over.
the NFL changes Priority of these rules as about as much as the refs do.
He caught the pass and had control but he had to maintain that control during his contact with the ground for it to be complete,
I think he didn’t satisfy all those conditions. But I’m on the other side of the Atlantic so what the heck do I know
Touchdown rule cant be above catch rules, how can you score a touchdown without having possession of the ball? In the case of a pass being thrown, catch rules would have to be adhered to enable possession before looking at touchdown rules.
You are correct a runner could that, he already established possession. A receiver has to establish possession first, hence the catch rules.
Again, this is pretty cut and dry. He was going to the ground in the process of the catch, which means he cant lose control of the ball, even if he intentionally reaches for the goal line. He didn’t satisfy the rules which clearly state “If he loses control of the ball, and the ball touches the ground, the pass is incomplete”. He clearly bobbled it when it hit the ground… Totally different ball game when going to the ground during a catch and running with the ball.
To be honest I saw it as a catch too.
Yes his left hand bounced off the ball when he hit the ground but to me it looked as if his right hand was firmly grasping it. For me it looked like he had control through the catch.
Watched it again. I was wrong. That ball clearly moved when it hit the ground. No control through the whole catch. Incomplete.
Today on German TV:
Falcons @ Saints
Seahawks @ Cowboys
Did y’all see that butt interception in the Saints game? Awesome!!!
Great to see Elliott is back.
Not too impressive yet but I just love how that guy punches holes through defenses.
Morris and the others are not too bad but Zeke is just one level higher.
Sean Lee is a great football player as well. Really like watching him play.
Love him.
He plays as if he didn’t mind getting hurt, full power. Also real great in play recognition which is why he makes so many tackles.
And he does a lot of charity as well, I saw loads of videos of him doing good there. Seems to be a nice guy off the field.
Oh man Dez Bryant costs the Cowboys the game.
Grrr…