Stop Whining Titans Fans, You Received an Officiating Gift as Well

There's nothing I abhor more in sports than a lack of accountability from fans when it comes to their teams. Blaming a loss on the officials, obviously, falls in this category, and there has been no shortage of it in the wake of the non-delay of game call in the Titans' home loss to the Ravens.

But Titans fans shouldn't complain. Thanks to a screen-grab on ProFootballTalk, you can easily see that the Titans should have been called for a safety during the first half. In my view, the back point of the football is touching the goal-line.

Now, I see many of the PFT commenters are not enlightened Zebra Report followers, because they are making incorrect statements about the safety rule. As we've discussed before, the entire ball has to be out of the end-zone for it to not be a safety. You can more easily grasp the concept if you think about where the ball would be spotted. Think about how stupid it would look if the ball was spotted with the back point on the end-zone line.

For the record, I can't really justify trashing the officiating crew for missing this. The back point of the football is barely touching that line, and it's a tough call for the line judge who is standing 20 yards away -- also watching the play at full speed. I do believe if the Ravens had challenged the play, however, the officials would have definitely called this a safety. What's very telling is that the league office stated simply, "Baltimore did not challenge."

So, please, Titans fans: Let's move on and quit making excuses. Your team lost the game, fair and square.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-12-2009 @ 1:12PM

The Dude said...

I do hate it when fans blame everyone but their team for losing. Like in game 6 of the NLCS when a poor fan was blamed for an entire ball clubs' failure. What a thoughtless, whining fan base. It really is sad. It just goes to show you that you get what you deserve.

1-12-2009 @ 1:37PM

Bruce said...

So...it looks like the NFL officials confirmed that the Titans did not get an extra down. As far as the safety goes I can't comment on that rule. Does the entire ball have to be across or just a portion (like a TD breaking the goal line). For a kick returner, if the ball breaks the goal line and he steps back into the endzone to kneel and take the touchback the ball is live.

The difference though is that the "safety" happened at game speed and was a reviewable call. The "delay of game" was obvious to everyone and happened at a crucial point in the game, with no other movement taking place to distract, and was non-reviewable.

Yes there were some poor calls. The delay of game being the biggest that tainted a very good, physical, "old school" football game. The Titan's outplayed the Ravens and should have won the game outright and not put themselves in a postion to lose in the fashion that they did. That's on them...

1-12-2009 @ 1:38PM

UKChris said...

So. A bad spot from the referee is the same as missing a call that leads directly to a 20-plus yard completion for a first down, keeping Baltimore's chances for a win alive? Is that the inference?

1-12-2009 @ 2:56PM

JIMMY said...

Come on the REFS always screw up. They suck. Just let the RAVENS have there chance in peace not fluke.

1-12-2009 @ 1:58PM

Simon said...

The Ball is measured by the furthest point not the back point. It's measured that way every time in football. They don't measure the back point of the ball for a first down. You don't need to get every inch of the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. And you only need a portion of the ball to be out of the end zone to avoid a safety.

1-12-2009 @ 2:00PM

Matt Snyder said...

I don't know how to say this without sounding rude ... but you are DEAD WRONG.

The entire football has to be out of the end-zone, otherwise it's a safety.

You can check a rulebook for any level. There is no disputing this fact.

soulcitysigma1914 said...

no offense snyder but i think it's bogus and the titans caught a raw deal. many games are decided on ONE play so it's bogus to say they should have done better at such and such another time in the game.

besides, you're comparing something reviewable to something unreviewable, which is bogus. Balty had the option of challenging and didn't; Tenn couldn't challenge even though the no-call was clearly bad. so it's balty's fault they didn't challenge, but not Tenn's fault that a bad call was made that they couldn't challenge.

this is coming from a panthers fan that hates kerry collins by the way

1-13-2009 @ 7:57AM

joecool said...

A bad spot that cost the ravens 2 points and the ball with good field position..not to mention momentum...or a bunch of plays the defense wouldnt have had to be on the field for...the ravens got the raw deal but still came out with the victory.

Plus lets not forget the last game they played each other, the Titans got a BS roughing the passer call on the last drive that lead to the winning TD...that play too was un challengeable.

Face it Titans are who everyone thought they were. Fakers

1-12-2009 @ 2:13PM

simon said...

Just look at the article you are linking to...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/12/titans-avoided-safety-got-an-extra-down/

1-12-2009 @ 2:15PM

Under "update 1" he said the exact same thing I did.

I'll say it again: The entire ball has to be out of the end-zone. This is the rule in elementary football, it's the rule in high school, it's the rule in college, and it is the rule in the NFL. This has never changed. Ever.

1-12-2009 @ 2:29PM

Zack Attack said...

Snyder, your arguments are terrible.

I'm a Titans fan, but I don't blame the loss fully on the refs. Fans who do are taking it to the extreme, but the argument isn't without merit. The non-call was hard to take because the game was tied and it was a large positive play with only minutes remaining. You simply can't call that negligible in a close game.

Suppose there is a safety called early in the game. Who's to say that the Titans still lose the game? The entire course of the game is changed. And if you want to be silly and assume the game stays exactly the same otherwise - you spot the Ravens 2 points, give the Titans the proper call on the delay of game... The Titans could have gotten a big stop and then gone on another game winning drive just like they did in the regular season.

Just because there were two mistakes, one for each side does not mean what you think it means.

1-12-2009 @ 2:36PM

If I generalized that all Titans fans are complaining, I didn't mean to do that.

Also, yes, the delay of game call was a big deal. If that happened to my favorite team, I'd be upset about it, too. I'd also be a lot more upset at Alge Crumpler, for example.

If either of these points have been misconstrued by what I've said, I apologize.

Stan said...

There is the letter of the rule and the PHILOSOPHY of the rule. "Cheap" scores are not awarded so, unless it is obviously a safety, you won't get the call....in the NFL or NCAA.

1-12-2009 @ 2:38PM

Right...the Ravens actually did get a safety..nothing "cheap" about it. Also the Ravens atually made the 20 yard pass to Heap. Yes it was a second after the play clock expired but they did execute the play. Its not like the Titans getting an extra down. If u penalize from the END of a play then the play counted. It should have been half the distance of the goal from the orginal line of scrimmage. Titans got the best of both worlds on that call.

1-12-2009 @ 2:42PM

Peter said...

No individual play or call can ever be terms the 'cause' of a victory or a loss even if, in points, it appears to be pivotal. The fact is, the Titans didn't win the game outright so as to negate any missed or blown calles. Had they played better as the #1 seed, blown calls would have been irrelevant. Get over it ... game's over, done, kaput ... and there will be no asterisk in the record books .. just a big "L" after "Titans" now and forever. Move on!

1-12-2009 @ 3:15PM

joecool,

Whine all you want, but the Titans, Ravens, Packers, Colts....etc. are NOT going to get that call unless it is obviously on the line. The philosophy of the rules dictates "when in doubt, it's not a safety". Just telling you how calls are made.

1-12-2009 @ 3:29PM

titans best defense said...

ref. blow calls in many playoffs games but if it happen to the cowboys ,steelers,colts ,pats, you would never hear the end of it all the sport shows would talk about it all day Ed Reed should had a persoal foul call for what he did to Chris Johnson play over.titans defense out played steelers and ravens.

1-12-2009 @ 3:20PM

Thatsabsurd said...

Titans went ONE AND OUT just as most people predicted.

Next year they can try again but I personally doubt they will be a playoff contender next year.

I think the real blame for losing wasn't the refs but "KARMA" for public display of disgrace to the terrible towel.

I believe the fans next week will be waving terrible towels...........what will the Titan fans be doing?

1-12-2009 @ 4:21PM

John said...

Does anyone have a video of Joe Flacco throwing the ball from out of the endzone, because it definitely looked like he had stepped out of the back and should have been a safety.

1-12-2009 @ 7:59PM

Does anyone have a video showing the final score on the scoreboard?

I believe at this point its all that matters.

Unless your still crying.