UPDATE: NYT adds another blog post backing point below -- need to change overtime rules.There were booth reviews galore in the Saints' single possession in overtime as they marched to a winning field goal vs. the Vikings and won 31-28. But the NYT Fifth Down blog cited two key rulings that Vikings fans may be up in arms over (see comments at blog). Of course, the insane NFL rule not allowing both teams to get the ball in overtime is the real culprit. Here's how the Times put it in asking if refs "bungled" it :
1) The Vikings’ Ben Leber was called for pass interference on the Saints’ David Thomas. It’s not clear Thomas had a play on the ball. And the contact between the players was not egregious — and at least debatable.
3) Shortly after, the Saints’ Robert Meachem bobbled a catch as he fell to the ground at the Vikings’ 22. The ball appeared to hit the ground before he had possession. The catch was upheld upon review. And it put the Saints in field-goal position to send them to the Super Bowl.
The pass interference was dubious, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteThe catch was 50-50. Meachem had his hand below the ball, and it could easily have been argued that though the ball DID touch the ground (no denying that), it touched the ground when in the possession/grasp of Meachem's hand, which trapped the ball not against the ground, but against Meachem's thigh. That was a reasonable upholding of an on-field call. There has to be enough evidence to justify an overturn.
All this aside, the Saints got jobbed on many calls, particularly personal fouls. The real culprit is the OT system, which needs to be blown up.
-Matt Zemek
Seattle
Agree with Matt - especially on the point about some equally dubious calls during regulation against the Saints.
ReplyDeletePlease, through out the game, the saints committed many fouls, rarely getting a flag for doing it... Remember the Vikings reciever who was held so bad that his shirt was pulled over a foot behind him? No pass interferance on that one. How about the umpteen late hits on Farve? Again, more "non calls". Don't even get me started on the Saint's "offensive" line's holding that was never called by the refs.
ReplyDeleteThere were more bad calls in OT as well as on 2 Saints td's that were not td's. crap officiating, really makes the NFL look bad.
ReplyDeleteThe Saint TD that wasn't, the constant effort of the Saints to hurt Brett Favre intentionally like they did the week before to Kurt Werner (who by the way just retired from the NFL) the OT 4th & 1 dive bobble, the pass interference that wasn't there and the leg trap ball hitting the ground "completion"... I mean really, I can see 1 blown call, but THREE? Within a few minutes of each other? Looks pretty suspicious to me fans.
ReplyDeleteI think there were 3 crucial bad calls in OT and i also believe refs gave the game to New Orleans to satisfy the home team crowd. However as much as I am a devoted Brett Favre fan and it hurts me to say this, the Minnesota Vikings put themselves in this position by coughing up the rock numerous times. The officials just put the cherry on top for the New Orleans Saints.
ReplyDeleteTo the fans pointing out that 5 turnovers are costly. You are correct and that is the only reason the game went into OT. However OT is a new game unto itself and the previous turnovers don't matter. The Saints gained 39 yards in OT, only 10 yards were earned. The refs and the NFL should be ashamed. This is worse that the Superbowl that was awarded to the Steelers over the Seahawks a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe game was given to the aints because of hurricane katrina. That game was pathetic and the refs shoulbe ashamed of themselves.They hit Favre hard multiple time when he didnt have the ball and the refs let it go to help the saint---there is no doubt about this and anyone that is stupid (which would be anyone that lives in the dump Louisiana. would not agree. The vikings could have played outside the rules and broke Drew brees in half.Another hurricane will finish off that pig dumnp this year and I cant wait.Bye bye New Orleans
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