I have a soft spot in my heart for
teams that aren't given a chance to win championships in the days leading up to the final game. But to say the Super Bowl was handed to the Steelers last night is just plain crazy.
Seattle-based Slate, though now owned by the Washington Post,
got the ball rolling early this morning, casting Pittsburgh as the "Stealers." If you watched any NFL games this season — and I have a sneaking suspicion many Seattle fans who jumped on the bandwagon as the season rolled on did not — you know questionable calls in an NFL game are like the scantily clad in NFL commercials — everywhere.
When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lunged for the goal line near the end of the first half, replays indicated a close play but a clear stop by the Seahawks. Nopetouchdown, Steelers.
A clear stop? I was convinced the ball crossed the plane of the goal line while Roethlisberger was in mid-air, before the defender hit him. There certainly wasn't the indisputable evidence needed to overturn the call. And I believe it was third down, which means Pittsburgh had another shot from the one-inch line if they wanted it. How many times do you stop that?
I didn't like the offensive pass interference call. And I didn't like the low block call on Hasselback. But bad calls are as a synonymous with the NFL as beer commercials, you still have to go out and win the game.
By the way, my colleague's prediction (Steelers by 12) was pretty close. I hope it's not a sign his
powers of prognostication are fading.
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