Face-Mask Penalty Goes Uncalled, Jags Will Face Much Tougher Test Against Pats

The Jaguars-Steelers wild-card game won't be remembered for its flawless execution, but it was exciting. The Jags surged to an 18-point second-half lead only to find themselves down one late in the fourth quarter. The play that set up the Steelers' go-ahead touchdown was a fourth-down fade pattern to Hines Ward.

The ball fell incomplete, but Brian Williams, defending on the play, was flagged for pass interference. Let's just say that Williams, along with just about everybody else, questioned the call:

Ultimately, it didn't matter -- Jacksonville won on a last-second field goal -- but calls like this don't do much for fans' confidence in NFL officials. But here's the bigger issue: the Jaguars defense gave up 337 passing yards to Ben Roethlisberger, most of them coming in the second half. Does this mean that we can expect Tom Brady to be the first quarterback in playoff history to throw for 1,000 yards in a game?

The Steelers have some weapons, but the Patriots have Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Dante' Stallworth. And the league MVP. And one more thing: if you think Ward got away with one last week, wait until Moss doesn't get called for offensive pass interference. It won't be hard to miss; he's been doing it all season and I think it's been called once.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-09-2008 @ 8:17PM

outbreak2020 said...

Steelers have getting away with this type of crap for years. They are the officials favorite team.

1-09-2008 @ 8:25PM

bottledsinz said...

This game had many no calls...And bad calls...If you look at them all...They went both ways...Its hard to see them as an excuse for either team...Same as the injury factor...The Jaguars had many key players out as well...2 starting DTs...#1 LB...2 TEs..To say they lost because of these factors...Is just LAME.

1-09-2008 @ 9:01PM

shadrack said...

Sure looked like interference to me. Bump and run
allows physical contact within first 5 yards, I believe that's what the rule is and I would say defender for Jags was still in contact with receiver
5-6 yards into the end zone. Where did they snap from??...maybe the 2-3 yard line?? DB definitely took more than his 5 yards worth...and got called for it. And I am not a Steelers fan.
Geaux Patriots 19-0 !!! 1972 Miami who ???

1-09-2008 @ 10:07PM

Hank Browne said...

I've seen several instances where Moss definitely got away with pushing off--he's pretty good at that.

1-10-2008 @ 10:35AM

murph207 said...

DB’s grab and smack and hold.. WR’s push off slow up and take dives…Pushing off is an art form, Moss is Michelangelo.. And this season is his Sistine chapel.. for Christ sakes people either enjoy the game or go watch ice capades

Murph

1-10-2008 @ 11:54AM

Buddy Toledo said...

Can you seriously tell me you saw the facemask live? It looked like obvious defensive pass interference at game speed.

That was one of the first times I ever heard John Madden speak of a Steeler with reverence. Madden taught all his players to cheat without getting caught, and Hines Ward did that better than anybody, drawing the penalty with a violation only visible on replay.

And there were definitely calls and no-calls going each way. James Harrison was being held the entire game and didn't get one call. Obvious holds, with a Jaguar pulling his jersey a foot off Heezy's back.

But it doesn't matter, the Steelers came back and lost the game not because of officials calls, but because of Tomlin's and Arian's calls.

But it is ridiculous to say that the Steelers regularly get the calls. In the Superbowl, there may have been judgment calls that could have gone either way, but no bad call that I have ever seen approaches the refs overturning Polamulu's interception in the Colts playoff game. And what other team has received three apologies from the NFL for game-changing bad calls in one season?

1-10-2008 @ 3:40PM

Bill Walters said...

All you people who watch a game and want to cry about bad calls stop wasteing our time and go watch the pro bowling circuit. A judgement call on the field is a jugement call.

Hey! did anyone hear about the secret meeting between the men in black and white stripes? Supposedly some one recorded who they are going to penalize in order to have certain teams play in the superbowl. Then they decided how to make bad calls and determine the winner of the superbowl. Sure wish I could listen to that tape so I knew who to put my money on.

Be careful after dark the black and white stripe shirts are every where------they are out to get you!!!! naha naha nah anah naha ahn ah ahn aha ah

1-10-2008 @ 4:18PM

joe wallace said...

Ryan, admit your bias. It's not like any idiot can't see it, but before you start a blog, admit, it. You have the same formula all the time. You say something glowing about the Pats, and then, something nasty, really nasty. You insert loaded words like "cheat," or you say Moss will "Get away" with pushing off, because he has done it all year, and only been called once. Blah blah blah. Your mock journalism is just a forum for your manifest dislike and envy. But I am used to it. I admit MY bias, though.

1-10-2008 @ 11:42PM

RFIpats fan said...

"And one more thing: if you think Ward got away with one last week, wait until Moss doesn't get called for offensive pass interference. It won't be hard to miss; he's been doing it all season and I think it's been called once."

Ryan, is there a point to this statement? Are you saying the secret to Randy's success is pushing off? I'm not really sure if thats what you were saying, because all you ever seem to do is leave loaded, biased, unsubstantiated opinions floating in the air.

I have a few comments for you.

Whatever team you root for is not as good as the Patriots.

Whoever plays wideout for your favorite team is not as good as Randy Moss.

Now, I may be biased, but at least I can back up my bias with factual statements instead of whiney opinions.

1-11-2008 @ 9:51AM

MBDawglover said...

LOOK again at NO point was Ward's hand inside the face mask or he would have had to LIFT his arm up to pull it away from the guy's face! He surely did have his hand in the defender's puss but HE was the one who was being shoved around. You people in your desperation to make YOUR team or the team you don't like look good are very good at seeing what isnt there at all! Sheesh