Are you ready for some NFL Football? 2014 Edition.

[Gunther]

I did watch.  I would not call it dominated by any stretch.  If the Ref didn't throw a flag, that is one thing.  The game is very fast.  BUT they did throw a flag.  then picked it up.  Very dubious.  Again, I have no dog in this game and really dislike Detroit, but they got hosed on an obvious play that I believe was a game changer.  This makes the refs look really bad and appear to have favoritism or at least be swayed by the crowd's boos. I also agree with @phan52 .  Chris Christie just lost the vote of every Giants and Eagles fan in the great state of New Jersey!! :-P

Dallas was and is the better team. They would have won the game regardless that call. Now, on Christie, he would lose those states anyway. His problem is that he'll never get past the primary because he made a right fool of himself and that video has gone viral. No one wants a boob for a president, especially now.

[iacas]

Yeah um, no. Dallas dominated the 2nd half, guess you didn't watch.

They were so dominant that they won by only four points despite several blatant calls?

Why do you jump to the conclusion of impropriety?  Isn't it a lot more likely that it's just a case where it wasn't seen.  There are "slight holds" on nearly every play.  There are blatant holds missed all the time.  It happens.

I didn't watch the game, but I talked to Dave (he won money on the game so he's not bitter at all), and he says there were so many blatant holding calls that weren't called, it was the worst called NFL game he's ever seen.

Also, on the PI about which you're willing to give the refs a pass, you do realize they even went so far as to announce the penalty, say first down, etc. before it just became a no-call?

As far as the PI call is concerned, I don't know the NFL rule.  Is it against the rule to face the player while the pass is coming?  Because if not, I'm not sure I agree that it was a penalty.  (It was certainly a hold earlier on the jersey tugging, but that was obviously missed completely)

Also, that the former head of the NFL refs called it pretty blatant, AND pointed out that it was defensive holding, too?

Dallas was and is the better team. They would have won the game regardless that call.

You cannot say that. Not even close. C'mon… it's not like they won 42-6 and we're talking about a play in the last 4:00 or something.

[Gunther]

They were so dominant that they won by only four points despite several blatant calls? I didn't watch the game, but I talked to Dave (he won money on the game so he's not bitter at all), and he says there were so many blatant holding calls that weren't called, it was the worst called NFL game he's ever seen. Also, on the PI about which you're willing to give the refs a pass, you do realize they even went so far as to announce the penalty, say first down, etc. before it just became a no-call? Also, that the former head of the NFL refs called it pretty blatant, AND pointed out that it was defensive holding, too? You cannot say that. Not even close. C'mon… it's not like they won 42-6 and we're talking about a play in the last 4:00 or something.

Don't know who Dave is but he is absolutely incorrect, in fact, that's a laughable comment that I find hard to believe anyone would have uttered. As I said, they dominated the 2nd half 17-3. The D had figured it out and Detroit couldn't move the ball. Even if that call were made, I doubt Detroit would have scored. I'll say it again, the better team won based both on season and game statistics. Onto the next round.

[iacas]

Don't know who Dave is but he is absolutely incorrect, in fact, that's a laughable comment that I find hard to believe anyone would have uttered.

Dude, straight up: take off the ****ing homer glasses.

I saw the play too. PI all day, except, somehow, after they announce pass interference.

As I said, they dominated the 2nd half 17-3. The D had figured it out and Detroit couldn't move the ball. Even if that call were made, I doubt Detroit would have scored.

You don't know it though.

I'll say it again, the better team won based both on season and game statistics. Onto the next round.

That doesn't negate anything I've said.

[CarlSpackler]

Don't know who Dave is but he is absolutely incorrect, in fact, that's a laughable comment that I find hard to believe anyone would have uttered. As I said, they dominated the 2nd half 17-3. The D had figured it out and Detroit couldn't move the ball. Even if that call were made, I doubt Detroit would have scored. I'll say it again, the better team won based both on season and game statistics. [b]Onto the next round.[b]

I do agree with you on that point at least. ;-)

[Gunther]

Dude, straight up: take off the ****ing homer glasses. I saw the play too. PI all day, except, somehow, after they announce pass interference. You don't know it though. That doesn't negate anything I've said.

Don't call me dude. I didn't dispute the play but to say that was the worst officiated game ever is laughable and far, far from the truth.

[iacas]

I didn't dispute the play but to say that was the worst officiated game ever is laughable and far, far from the truth.

Okay dude. Whateeeeeeeeever you say.

P.S. I didn't say he said it was the worst officiated game ever.

[CarlSpackler]

Okay dude. Whateeeeeeeeever you say. P.S. I didn't say he said it was the worst officiated game ever.

Then I'll say it. It was the worst officiating EVAH! =]

[Gunther]

Okay dude. Whateeeeeeeeever you say. P.S. I didn't say he said it was the worst officiated game ever.

So full of condescension and histrionics. I thought you were working on improvement in this area? You may not have said it but your friend Dave did and that is the comment to which I responded. And, I said very early on that it was a bad call. I've made 3 points here: 1. Bad calls happen to all teams, it all balances out. 2. The better team won (favored by 7 so that is obvious). 3. The game was not fixed by the refs. You didn't even watch the game and you haven't read my previous posts. C'mon man, you're better than this.

[Slice of Life]

Then I'll say it. It was the worst officiating EVAH! =]

No, that still belongs to Super Bowl 40.

[Jakester23]

So full of condescension and histrionics. I thought you were working on improvement in this area? You may not have said it but your friend Dave did and that is the comment to which I responded. And, I said very early on that it was a bad call. I've made 3 points here: 1. Bad calls happen to all teams, it all balances out. 2. The better team won (favored by 7 so that is obvious). 3. The game was not fixed by the refs. You didn't even watch the game and you haven't read my previous posts. C'mon man, you're better than this.

The better team did win but the refs missed a lot of calls most of which went against Detroit. Bad calls do happen. That was one of the worst calls in a PLAYOFF game I've seen in quite a while. The Cowboys were the better team in the 2nd half but that penalty aside from the 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that they should have thrown on the same play on Dez for being 20 yards onto the field with no helmet would have put Detroit inside the 20. You can't say that cost Detroit the game but you can definitely say it helped Dallas. It at worst cost Detroit set of down in the red zone.

[iacas]

So full of condescension and histrionics. I thought you were working on improvement in this area?

Condescension? None here. For what, calling you "dude"? I call my friends "dude." Nothing to "work on" in this thread, thank you very much.

You may not have said it but your friend Dave did and that is the comment to which I responded.

No he didn't. Read it again.

1. Bad calls happen to all teams, it all balances out.

Not within a single game.

2. The better team won (favored by 7 so that is obvious).

So? The better team doesn't always win. Particularly in the NFL. Not a relevant point of discussion.

3. The game was not fixed by the refs.

I haven't said it was.

[Gunther]

Condescension? None here. For what, calling you "dude"? I call my friends "dude." Nothing to "work on" in this thread, thank you very much. No he didn't. Read it again.   Not within a single game.   So? The better team doesn't always win. Particularly in the NFL. Not a relevant point of discussion.   I haven't said it was.

This does get comical bud. I know your style, been around awhile. Your use of the term dude earlier was absolutely dripping with condescension. Please don't insult me. So Dave is aware of other games that he hasn't seen that were officiated worse than this one? Curious. Ok, enough said. Let's focus on the next round, lots of good match-ups.

[iacas]

This does get comical bud. I know your style, been around awhile. Your use of the term dude earlier was absolutely dripping with condescension. Please don't insult me.

You know what they say about assuming… I didn't say "dude" condescendingly. If you know me at all you know that I'm honest to a fault, so, take that as it's written. Or don't - I really don't care.

It seems to me - and yeah, I'm speculating here - you formed an incorrect opinion of how to read my posts, and have never revisited that to verify its accuracy. Bummer. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm extending it to cover your use of "bud" above. I'm taking no offense and reading nothing negative into it.

So Dave is aware of other games that he hasn't seen that were officiated worse than this one? Curious.

Huh? What's that have to do with anything?

I said "Dave said it was the worst called NFL game he's ever seen ." You twisted that around to say "The worst officiated game ever [period] ." From there you can scroll up to see where you continue to wander off the tracks on that (irrelevant) point. Sheesh.

He never said worst officiated game EVER. He said worst officiated game he's ever SEEN. Not for nothing, but he's seen hundreds if not thousands of NFL games.

Ok, enough said. Let's focus on the next round, lots of good match-ups.

I'm gonna root against the Cowboys. Karma's a bitch.

[Gunther]

You know what they say about assuming… I didn't say "dude" condescendingly. If you know me at all you know that I'm honest to a fault, so, take that as it's written. Or don't - I really don't care. :-) It seems to me - and yeah, I'm speculating here - you formed an incorrect opinion of how to read my posts, and have never revisited that to verify its accuracy. Bummer. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm extending it to cover your use of "bud" above. I'm taking no offense and reading nothing negative into it. Huh? What's that have to do with anything? I said "Dave said [COLOR=181818]it was the worst called NFL game he's ever seen [/COLOR]." You twisted that around to say "The worst officiated game ever [period] ." From there you can scroll up to see where you continue to wander off the tracks on that (irrelevant) point. Sheesh. He never said worst officiated game EVER. He said worst officiated game he's ever SEEN. Not for nothing, but he's seen hundreds if not thousands of NFL games. I'm gonna root against the Cowboys. Karma's a bitch. :-)

Cowboys have a tough match-up next week but they're 8-0 on the road this year and weather will be cold but nice. I like their chances. Also like Sea, Den, and NE will finally get past Balt in the playoffs. Lot's of good games.

[Golfingdad]

I didn't watch the game, but I talked to Dave (he won money on the game so he's not bitter at all), and he says there were so many blatant holding calls that weren't called, it was the worst called NFL game he's ever seen.

I didn't either.  I'll have to take his word for it. ;)  Then again, he is an Eagles fan so ...

Also, on the PI about which you're willing to give the refs a pass, you do realize they even went so far as to announce the penalty, say first down, etc. before it just became a no-call?

Actually, I was NOT aware of that.  I was speaking only of the play itself and not of the refs actual actions.  That is ... ummm ... really weird.  I griped about a non PI call against the Chargers a few weeks ago where it was clear that the ref thought about it because you saw him reaching for his flag, then deciding against it.  I can then only imagine how frustrating this was for Lions fans.

I watched it again and I'll just say this:  It's not the worst PI call/no call I've ever seen, and if the flag never came out in the first place, I highly doubt we'd be talking about it right now.  However, I relent against saying it's a correct call because I see that the defender puts his hand on the receivers shoulder before the ball gets there.

That said, just here in our little world, after numerous people have watched this slow motion video over and over again, we still haven't reached a unanimous conclusion.  I don't find it that hard to believe that 7 referees, none of whom had the luxury of slo-mo, or, for that matter, even a second look in full speed, could goof on this when they had all of 60 seconds or so to make this decision.

I can only assume that the ref that overturned the call is a little more headstrong than the one who threw the flag.  He basically waved his hand and said "This is not the PI flag you are looking for" and the guy agreed.

Also, that the former head of the NFL refs called it pretty blatant, AND pointed out that it was defensive holding, too?

I assumed as much because of the linked video.  And, he's clearly correct about the holding.  That was obvious during the video, but that was obviously just missed.  It's easy to discount that one.  Unfortunate, yes, but they missed it.  That happens.

I was disagreeing because I was waiting to hear somebody explain to me about the "faceguarding" rule, and whether or not it exists.  Now that I see he was grabbing him, that is a moot point.

[Slice of Life]

For the record...

I was rooting for the Cowboys and was...mind boggled at them picking up the flag. Had they not thrown it in the first place, or thrown it and picked it up...I would have thought nothing of it...happens all the time.

But to throw the flag, announce the penalty, and then later say "There was no foul on the play" was one of the oddest things I've ever seen officiating wise in an NFL game. Other than that, I don't think it was a poorly called game. But that was...odd to say the least.

[Dave2512]

Same I want to see the Cowboys do well if for nothing but the sake of nostalgia but everyone in my living room thought picking up the flag was BS. IMO a momentum changer.