Steelers-Chargers Ref Admits Mistake On Game

I tell you one thing. First of all I watched only the last few minutes of this game because of regional broadcast. And I have to say every year the officiating is getting worse and worse. I also don't think it is right that the players can't talk about the officiating, especially when they did a horrible job of calling the game. They have cost my favorite team 2 games this year so far. Not only that later in the week the officials have come out and said that they blew the most important call of the game. Shouldn't that tell the league that something isn't working. That need to fix the multi billion dollar product that they are putting out on the field before it costs them the game. Like baseball.

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A late drive for a field goal gave the Steelers an exciting 11-10 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, but the game's final play -- one that had no effect on the outcome -- is what many fans in Pittsburgh are talking about.


On San Diego's final play, quarterback Philip Rivers threw a 3-yard pass to running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who turned and made a short lateral to wide receiver Chris Chambers as time ran out.

Chambers also lateraled, trying to keep the final play alive. But the Steelers' Troy Polamalu scooped up the ball at the 12-yard line and ran into the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown.

The play was immediately ruled a touchdown, and referee Scott Green upheld the call after a review. But the referees huddled again before Steelers kicker Jeff Reed could attempt the extra point, and they changed their minds and ruled the play was an illegal forward pass, meaning that Polamalu was not eligible to recover it.

Later, Green admitted it was the wrong call.

"We should have let the play go through in the end, yes," Green said.

Really, the play mattered only to gamblers. Pittsburgh did not cover the point spread, but the Steelers would have covered if Polamalu's touchdown had counted.

Coach Mike Tomlin made it clear he would not take any questions about any of the referees' calls in his postgame news conference.
"I don't want to talk about the officiating. I don't want to talk about it, OK?" he said. "I've never seen a game with 13-1 penalties, OK? I'm not answering questions about the officiating."