Now, let's get to the Official Review. I don't believe the refs cost the Patriots the game -- Eli had that one insanely lucky pass, and obviously the Giants D-line manhandling of the Patriots O-line was the real problem -- but in a tight game, non-turnovers and penalties that affect field position might account for the 3 point deficit.
A reporter wrote in his blog for the SportingNews:
The NFL put together a supposedly all-star officiating team for the Super Bowl, but the officials already have blown three calls by my count. And it's not even halftime.
On New York's first possession of the second quarter, Eli Manning threw a pass that appeared to be in Plaxico Burress' possession before cornerback Ellis Hobbs III knocked the ball away. The Patriots scooped it up, but the refs whistled the play dead, ruling an incomplete pass.
On the very next play, Manning hurled a deep ball to Amani Toomer, who clearly jabbed his left hand into Hobbs' facemask to push him away before the receiver made a diving, 38-yard catch falling out of bounds at the Patriots 19.
(In a bit of karma, Hobbs picked off a deflected pass on third down to end the drive, preserving New England's 7-3 lead.)
Then, on New York's next possession, Ahmad Bradshaw botched a handoff from Manning and New England linebacker Pierre Woods fell on the ball. Patriots ball, right? Wrong. Bradshaw managed to sneak in, roll Woods over and steal away the ball. Inexplicably, the officials let New York keep it.
Come on, guys, this is the Super Bowl.
Let's tighten things up.
But the non-call on the offensive pass interference was egregious. And the non-fumble, when #58 (Woods, whoever he is, never seen him before) fell on and had the ball for like, what, 5 minutes or something ridiculous, and then "lost" the ball when he rolled over? That was simply outrageous. That's a change of possession, and at mid-field no less!
The other play that gives me pause is the Adalius Thomas stripping of Eli Manning. They called a penalty on the Giants for batting the ball forward, costing them 10 yards but keeping possession. I'd like to see this one replayed and explained to me.
Then there's Ben Watson's holding on the last drive of the half, wiping out a 15-yard run by Kevin Faulk. USA Today's Jarret Bell said: "It was hardly a blatant hold and appeared it could have been a non-call."
I've also heard people complain about a non-call of a roughing-the-passer on Brady, where somebody hit him in the head, but I didn't see it or simply don't recall the play.
Crew chief Mike Carey got high marks from some, and it was better officiated than many of the playoff games, but that's not saying much. Maybe Coach B, who brilliantly challenged that 12th man on the punt play, should've challenged a few more calls.
2 comments:
On IM, sitboaf sez: i can't post without a blogger account, so here: [and I quote]
Firstly. Follow this man's advice and go read Bill Simmons on ESPN page2.
As for the calls…
1. The Toomer non-offensive pass interference was indeed egregious. Worst non-call of the night. That ball (as well as several other wounded ducks that Eli got away with) could have been picked off.
2. Originally, I thought the non-fumble recovery was missed badly. Upon further review, I noticed that a Giant had his arm in Pierre Woods' breadbasket as they were falling to the turf. So, I can live with that one. I'm more upset that Woods wasn't able to hang on to the ball.
3. I thought you missed 2 Patriot penalties that weren't called: HGHarrison delivered an elbow to the head while making a tackle. Also, the Giants kick returner (who set up the winning drive with 2:50 left in the 4th) was dropped like a bad habit, but he was speared. There's a reason he didn't get up - the Patriot helmet went directly into his stomach.
5:15 PM
peace out
I haven't read your other comment, so some of this might be redundant.
1 - You say "longest undefeated season". That's incorrect. To have an undefeated season, you must have a season that has no defeats. By definition, this is incorrect.
2 - The 'fumble' was not a fumble. The receiver was in the air without possession and then was still not in possession of the ball while he touched the ground and the ball squirted away. He didn't have time to make a football move and had this been a more critical play - or at a more critical spot on the field like the end zone - it would have been ruled incomplete as well.
3 - Penalties were missed on both sides, but the only call that DIDN'T get called (wait, there were three) were pretty costly. 1 was the offensive pass interference on the sideline by the Giants' receiver. Clear as day. And no flag. Insane. 2 was the Moss touchdown pass. Moss didn't do anything wrong, but one of the O-linemen tackled the defensive rusher. TACKLED HIM as he got close to Brady. That would have changed the game and the Pats might have lost...oh, wait they did lose, boo hoo. And the third was the non-call on Eli being in the grasp of the NE entire defensive line. That should have been a dead play after he had been held onto for nine minutes as Tyree got free and used his helmet to catch the ball.
I don't pledge to be impartial...I HATE the Patriots. But this game was well played by the Giants and the Pats missed some opportunities. OR they were so arrogant in their belief of their abilities that they figured a last-minute comeback was in the cards for them again. And it almost was.
Go read my blog Bowl of Cheese to see some unabashed Pats bashing.
I speak of the Pats' videotaping exploits as far back as the Plunkett era. I talk about Brady's fourteen Vietnamese out of wedlock children. I speak of Rodney Harrison's ties to the drug cartels. And I note that Belichick is STILL unaware that manners exist and he believes he is above the rules.
Jeff
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